The NFL Defensive Player of the Year award has largely been the domain of the league's top pass rushers in recent years. The 2024 season, however, featured a breakthrough performance.

Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II won the award on Thursday at NFL Honors, joining Stephon Gilmore as just the second player at the position since 2010 to be given the recognition. Surtain (26 first-place votes) beat out Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (11), Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (five), Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt (three) and Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun (two).

Surtain proved instrumental in ending the Broncos' eight-year playoff drought, giving Denver's seventh-ranked defense a lockdown presence on the back end. An All-Pro selection for the second time and Pro Bowl choice for the third time in his four-year career, he recorded four interceptions and 11 passes defensed.

Despite often shadowing top receivers, Surtain was targeted on just 10.9% of his snaps, the lowest rate since 2021 among cornerbacks with at least 300 coverage snaps, according to Next Gen Stats. His 306 yards allowed represented the lowest total by any NFL cornerback with 375 or more coverage snaps this season, per Next Gen Stats.

"This is a surreal feeling, honestly," Surtain said after winning the award. "This is something that I worked for this offseason and I manifested it. To see it happen is a dream come true, honestly. I’m very grateful and blessed. It’s all technique and film study and all being the best version of myself."

Surtain is only the second Broncos player to win the award after Randy Gradishar claimed it in 1978.

Contributing: Tyler Dragon

This story has been updated with additional information.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL Defensive Player of the Year results: Broncos' Pat Surtain II wins