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Champ Bailey was an elite shutdown cornerback, with the best two-year stretch of his career coming with the Denver Broncos from 2005-2006.
Bailey led the NFL with 10 interceptions in 2006, including a 70-yard pick-six. In addition to the 10 takeaways, Bailey also totaled 86 tackles, 21 pass breakups and one forced fumble that season.
Bailey was the NFL’s best cornerback, earning a first-team All-Pro nod and a Pro Bowl selection. He also should have won Defensive Player of the Year, but voters gave that honor to former Miami Dolphins pass rusher Jason Taylor instead.
Taylor totaled 13.5 sacks in 2006 (the same total as Nik Bonitto in 2024). He also forced nine fumbles and scored two defensive touchdowns. Taylor finished first in DPOY voting and Bailey ended up second.
Eighteen seasons later, current Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain could right the wrong of Bailey being snubbed in 2006.
Surtain is considered the favorite to win DPOY after totaling 11 pass breakups and four interceptions in 2024 while only allowing 306 passing yards, fewest among qualified cornerbacks this season.
Cincinnati Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson led the NFL with 17.5 sacks in 2024, but he did not post any takeaways or defensive touchdowns. Hendrickson is likely Surtain’s biggest competition for the award.
The DPOY award will be announced during NFL Honors tonight.