Stephon Gilmore named AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year
By Alex Barth, 985TheSportsHub.com
According to numerous reports, Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore will be named the 2019 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year at Saturday night’s NFL Honors.
Gilmore was targeted 65 times in 2019 (according to PFF), allowing just 35 catches and only one touchdown. He finished the season tied for the league lead with six interceptions, and broke up an NFL-best 20 passes.
.@Patriots PICK-6! Stephon Gilmore takes it to the house! 🏠#NEvsMIA #GoPats @BumpNrunGilm0re
— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2019
📺: CBS
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app
Watch on mobile: https://t.co/y8YLGKmeTf pic.twitter.com/S0qJTS6LHI
Centered around Gilmore’s effort, the Patriots led the league allowing just 275.9 yards per game in 2019, with only 180.4 coming through the air. They also paced the league allowing just 14.1 points per game. The next closest team was the Buffalo Bills, who allowed 16.2. Their 25 interceptions were most of any team in the NFL.
Gilmore becomes the first ever Patriot to win the award, and the first cornerback since Charles Woodson in 2009. He joins Woodson and Deion Sanders, Rod Woodson, Lester Hays, and Mel Blount as the only cornerbacks to be named AP DPOTY since the award was instituted in 1971.
LOCK DOWN.
— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2019
Stephon Gilmore's second INT of the day is a PICK-6! #GoPats
📺: #NEvsCIN on CBS
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app
Watch free on mobile: https://t.co/ALWDCpltog pic.twitter.com/yTuAkSU46m
Gilmore’s teammate Tom Brady was quick to show his support on his Instagram account.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8CpYbNhk2p/?igshid=1fcvpiatfffgm
The awards will formally be announced at Saturday night’s NFL Honors ceremony in Miami. Other notable winners announced early include Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill as Comeback Player of the Year, Saints receiver Mike Thomas as Offensive Player of the Year, and Niners defensive lineman Nick Bosa as Defensive Rookie of the year. The show starts at 8 p.m. on Fox and will be hosted by Steve Harvey for the second straight year.
