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The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is awarded to the best defensive player judged by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).
| Year | Winner | School |
| 2006 | James Laurinaitis | Ohio State |
| 2005 | Elvis Dumervil | Louisville |
| 2004 | Derrick Johnson | Texas |
| 2003 | Derrick Strait | Oklahoma |
| 2002 | Terrell Suggs | Arizona State |
| 2001 | Roy Williams | Oklahoma |
| 2000 | Dan Morgan | Miami (Fla.) |
| 1999 | Corey Moore | Virginia Tech |
| 1998 | Champ Bailey | Georgia |
| 1997 | Charles Woodson | Michigan |
| 1996 | Pat Fitzgerald | Northwestern |
| 1995 | Pat Fitzgerald | Northwestern |
| 1994 | Warren Sapp | Miami (Fla.) |
| 1993 | Rob Waldrop | Arizona |
