Alabama football can add another NFL accolade to Alabama football’s recruiting pitch.
Former Crimson Tide defensive back and current Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II was named The Associated Press’ 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Surtain is the first Alabama player to be named NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Former Alabama running back Derrick Henry was named AP Offensive Player of the Year in 2020 for the Tennessee Titans, while former Alabama running back Shaun Alexander was NFL MVP in 2005 with the Seattle Seahawks.
Surtain finished this season with 45 tackles, 11 pass deflections and four interceptions returned for a league-leading 132 yards. Surtain also was named first-team All-Pro for the second time in his NFL career and made his third Pro Bowl team.
Surtain was the No. 9 overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Broncos after three seasons with the Crimson Tide.
Surtain was an All-American in 2020, recording an SEC-leading 12 pass deflections with four tackles-for-loss and 38 tackles. He was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Former Alabama football DB named NFL Defensive Player of the Year
