NEW ORLEANS – Pat Surtain II has become seen by making receivers invisible.
He has been good since he entered the league. Now, he is stamped with greatness.
Surtain joined Hall of Fame linebacker Randy Gradishar as the only Bronco to win the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year honors. Gradishar claimed his award in 1978. Surtain was given his on Thursday night at the NFL Honors awards show.
“It is special to me, and I know it is special to Broncos Country,” Surtain said. “I was nervous because I didn’t know what to expect. But when they called my name, I let out a deep breath. It was a very gratifying feeling. I am honestly thankful and very humbled to get this award.”
A humid night at Saenger Theatre on Canal Street will remain embedded in Surtain’s brain. He grew up the son of an NFL cornerback. He felt like he was destined to play in the league. To receive this honor in New Orleans where his mom and dad are from made it resonate even more.
“Having so many people in my support system is huge,” Surtain said. “Coming back here and having so many aunties and cousins here, I am happy to represent the city and make them proud. It is a bit surreal.”
Surtain is the first cornerback to win the award since Stephen Gilmore in 2019 with the New England Patriots. Edge rushers rank as favorites because of their obvious impact plays and highlights. Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt appeared to have a path to the award, but fell into a slump along with this team, finishing with 11.5 sacks. Watt registered no sacks or quarterback hits over the Steelers’ final three games, all Steelers losses.
That allowed Surtain to move into the spotlight. He was helped by Denver ascending into contention, which resulted in the team’s first playoff berth since 2015, while snapping a streak of seven straight losing seasons. In the end, Surtain won convincingly. He received 26 first-place votes, well ahead of runner-up pass rusher Trey Hendrickson (11), Myles Garrett (five), Watt (3) and Zack Baun.
“To win as a corner, it’s different. It doesn’t happen very often. It shows you how special he is,” said Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton, who attended NFL Honors as the team’s Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee. “He deserves it.”
Surtain, 24, finished with 45 tackles and tied his career-high with four interceptions. His pick-six against the Raiders changed the course of the game, and helped him lead the league in interception return yardage with 132. Surtain finally broke through after the Broncos were close multiple times through the years. Von Miller finished second to Chicago’s Khalil Mack in 2016 and Champ Bailey was the runner-up to Miami’s Jason Taylor in 2006.
“Sometimes it is hard for corners to get the flashy stats,” Surtain said. “We don’t get looked at that often. I know when the plays came my way I capitalized on them. It’s definitely a good feeling that people did their film study and their research.”
For Surtain, his satisfaction came from the season. The winning. Seeing his teammates shine as edge rusher Nik Bonitto and defensive end Zach Allen both received All-Pro honors.
“I have played it my whole life. Seeing other guys succeed, that’s what I really like. When I see guys on my team reach their potential, and get their honors or contracts, I like seeing that,” Surtain said. “I grew up loving the game by performing at a high level consistently.”
Being in the city of the Super Bowl makes it easy to frame his expectations moving forward. He has won the top defensive award. He would prefer to miss the NFL Honors moving forward, signaling he is playing in the big game.
“It definitely feeds the hunger. It’s definitely somewhere where I want to be. That’s the next big achievement, getting to a Super Bowl,” Surtain said. “I want to reach that point where I have a chance to hoist the Lombardi (Trophy).”
