NFL Best Cornerback Seasons Year-by-Year

Welcome to our retrospective showcase of the finest NFL cornerbacks, season by season, over the last three decades. In this deep dive, we explore the pivotal contributions of these elite athletes, whose remarkable abilities to intercept passes, shut down top-tier receivers, and dominate the field have left an indelible mark on the sport. From iconic figures like Rod Woodson and Deion Sanders to emerging talents, each year brings a new chapter of exceptional defensive artistry, underscoring the critical role cornerbacks play in shaping the dynamics of professional football. Join us as we relive the standout seasons that have redefined the cornerback position since 1990.

1990 NFL Season

Top Cornerback: Rod Woodson

• Stats: 66 tackles, 5 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, 3 fumble recoveries.
• Highlight: Dominating in Steelers’ black and gold, Woodson was a defensive cornerstone, not just excelling statistically but also terrifying quarterbacks with his game-reading prowess.

Runner-Up: Darrell Green

• Stats: 78 tackles, 4 interceptions, 1 touchdown.

1991 NFL Season

Top Cornerback: Darrell Green

• Stats: 79 tackles, 5 interceptions.
• Impact: Known for his blistering speed, Green played a pivotal role in the Redskins’ championship season, consistently shutting down top receivers.

Runner-Up: Deion Sanders

• Stats: 49 tackles, 6 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 touchdown.

1992 NFL Season

Top Cornerback: Rod Woodson

• Stats: 100 tackles, 5 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles, 6 sacks.
• Performance: Woodson repeated his dominance with an electrifying presence, highlighted by 7 interceptions and 2 pick-sixes.

Runner-Up: Deion Sanders

• Stats: 66 tackles, 3 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries.

1993 NFL Season

Top Cornerback: Rod Woodson

• Stats: 95 tackles, 8 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries.
• Overview: Woodson’s stellar performance continued, showcasing his dynamic skills and solidifying his status as a defensive supernova.

Runner-Up: Deion Sanders

• Stats: 34 tackles, 7 interceptions, 1 forced fumble.

1994 NFL Season

Top Cornerback: Deion Sanders

• Stats: 36 tackles, 6 interceptions, 3 touchdowns.
• Highlight: Sanders dazzled the league with his ability to turn defense into offense, making significant impacts in critical games.

Runner-Up: Rod Woodson

• Stats: 83 tackles, 4 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, 2 touchdowns.

1995 NFL Season

Top Cornerback: Aeneas Williams

• Stats: 62 tackles, 6 interceptions, 2 touchdowns.
• Highlight: Williams shone brightly for the Phoenix Cardinals, becoming a pivotal playmaker and an interception leader.

Runner-Up: Deion Sanders

• Stats: 26 tackles, 2 interceptions.

1996 NFL Season

Top Cornerback: Deion Sanders

• Stats: 33 tackles, 2 interceptions, 1 touchdown.
• Performance: Continuing his electrifying play, Sanders contributed significantly to the Cowboys, showcasing his remarkable dual-threat capabilities.

Runner-Up: Aeneas Williams

• Stats: 77 tackles, 6 interceptions, 1 touchdown.

1997 NFL Season

Top Cornerback: Deion Sanders

• Stats: 33 tackles, 2 interceptions, 1 touchdown.
• Impact: Sanders again led the Cowboys with his strategic plays and unmatched agility, disrupting numerous plays.

Runner-Up: Aeneas Williams

• Stats: 63 tackles, 6 interceptions, 2 touchdowns.

1998 NFL Season

Top Cornerback: Ty Law

• Stats: 70 tackles, 9 interceptions, 1 touchdown.
• Highlight: Law emerged as a top defender, with his impressive interceptions and solid tackling marking a standout season.

Runner-Up: Deion Sanders

• Stats: 25 tackles, 5 interceptions, 1 touchdown.

1999 NFL Season

Top Cornerback: Charles Woodson

• Stats: 61 tackles, 1 interception, 1 touchdown.
• Emergence: In only his sophomore year, Woodson made a significant mark with the Raiders by demonstrating elite defensive skills.

Runner-Up: Deion Sanders

• Stats: 42 tackles, 3 interceptions, 1 forced fumble.

2000 NFL Season

Top Cornerback: Champ Bailey

• Stats: 61 tackles, 5 interceptions.
• Performance: Bailey confirmed his elite status with the Redskins, excelling in coverage and interceptions.

Runner-Up: Charles Woodson

• Stats: 79 tackles, 4 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles.

2001 NFL Season

Top Cornerback: Ronde Barber

• Stats: 72 tackles, 10 interceptions, 1 touchdown.
• Impact: Barber excelled as a key player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, mastering the art of interception with a season-high ten picks, proving his nose for the ball and gritty style.

Runner-Up: Aeneas Williams

• Stats: 73 tackles, 4 interceptions, 4 fumble recoveries, 2 touchdowns.

2002 NFL Season

Top Cornerback: Patrick Surtain

• Stats: 50 tackles, 7 interceptions.
• Performance: As a pivotal figure in the Miami Dolphins’ defense, Surtain’s agility and keen play-reading terrified quarterbacks and receivers alike.

Runner-Up: Ronde Barber

• Stats: 79 tackles, 2 interceptions, 3 sacks.

2003 NFL Season

Top Cornerback: Ty Law

• Stats: 74 tackles, 6 interceptions, 1 touchdown.
• Highlight: Law showcased why he was a feared cornerback in the NFL, playing a critical role in the Patriots’ championship win.

Runner-Up: Champ Bailey

• Stats: 72 tackles, 2 interceptions.

2004 NFL Season

Top Cornerback: Champ Bailey

• Stats: 81 tackles, 3 interceptions.
• Dominance: Bailey, now with the Broncos, continued his exceptional performance, disrupting plays and securing interceptions with ease.

Runner-Up: Ronde Barber

• Stats: 99 tackles, 3 interceptions, 2 touchdowns.

2005 NFL Season

Top Cornerback: Champ Bailey

• Stats: 66 tackles, 8 interceptions, 2 touchdowns.
• Overview: Dominating once more, Bailey’s superior coverage skills made him a standout player, intimidating quarterbacks throughout the NFL.

Runner-Up: Ronde Barber

• Stats: 99 tackles, 5 interceptions.

2006 NFL Season

Top Cornerback: Asante Samuel

• Stats: 64 tackles, 10 interceptions, 1 forced fumble.
• Excellence: Samuel, a key element of the Patriots’ defense, turned every play into a potential game-changer with his interceptions.

Runner-Up: Champ Bailey

• Stats: 86 tackles, 10 interceptions, 1 touchdown.

2007 NFL Season

Top Cornerback: Antonio Cromartie

• Stats: 44 tackles, 10 interceptions, 2 touchdowns.
• Highlight: Cromartie’s record-breaking play and high interception count made him a defensive sensation for the Chargers.

Runner-Up: Asante Samuel

• Stats: 46 tackles, 6 interceptions, 1 touchdown.

2008 NFL Season

Top Cornerback: Nnamdi Asomugha

• Stats: 19 tackles, 0 interceptions.
• Impact: Asomugha’s formidable presence created a no-fly zone, leading quarterbacks to avoid throwing in his direction altogether.

Runner-Up: Cortland Finnegan

• Stats: 69 tackles, 5 interceptions, 1 touchdown.

2009 NFL Season

Top Cornerback: Darrelle Revis

• Stats: 54 tackles, 6 interceptions, 1 touchdown.
• Dominance: Revis’s exceptional season on ‘Revis Island’ showcased his ability to completely shut down top receivers.

Runner-Up: Charles Woodson

• Stats: 74 tackles, 9 interceptions, 3 touchdowns.

2010 NFL Season

Top Cornerback: Darrelle Revis

• Stats: 32 tackles, 0 interceptions.
• Coverage: Continuing his elite performance, Revis’s tight coverage made him nearly invulnerable, keeping top receivers in check.

Runner-Up: Asante Samuel

• Stats: 26 tackles, 7 interceptions.

2011 NFL Season

Top Cornerback: Darrelle Revis

• Stats: 52 tackles, 4 interceptions, 1 touchdown.
• Skill: Revis maintained his high standards, turning plays around with his interceptions and unmatched coverage abilities.

Runner-Up: Johnathan Joseph

• Stats: 57 tackles, 2 interceptions, 1 touchdown.

2012 NFL Season

Top Cornerback: Richard Sherman

• Stats: 65 tackles, 8 interceptions, 1 touchdown.
• Emergence: Part of the ‘Legion of Boom’, Sherman’s size, speed, and intellect made him a formidable opponent for any quarterback.

Runner-Up: Charles Tillman

• Stats: 87 tackles, 3 interceptions

2013 NFL Season

Best Cornerback: Richard Sherman

• Stats: 48 tackles, 8 interceptions, 1 touchdown.
• Impact: Sherman led the league with 8 interceptions, showcasing his exceptional ball skills and contributing significantly to the Seahawks’ Super Bowl victory.

Runner-Up: Patrick Peterson

• Stats: 42 tackles, 3 interceptions.

2014 NFL Season

Best Cornerback: Richard Sherman

• Stats: 57 tackles, 4 interceptions.
• Consistency: Sherman continued to dominate with another solid performance, aiding the Seahawks in their back-to-back Super Bowl appearances.

Runner-Up: Darrelle Revis

• Stats: 47 tackles, 2 interceptions.

2015 NFL Season

Best Cornerback: Patrick Peterson

• Stats: 35 tackles, 2 interceptions.
• Emergence: Peterson’s exceptional coverage skills earned him recognition as one of the league’s top cornerbacks, despite fewer interceptions.

Runner-Up: Josh Norman

• Stats: 56 tackles, 4 interceptions, 2 touchdowns.

2016 NFL Season

Best Cornerback: Aqib Talib

• Stats: 43 tackles, 3 interceptions, 1 touchdown.
• Dominance: Talib’s aggressive style of play and ability to shut down opponents solidified his status as one of the league’s best cornerbacks.

Runner-Up: Marcus Peters

• Stats: 45 tackles, 6 interceptions.

2017 NFL Season

Best Cornerback: Jalen Ramsey

• Stats: 63 tackles, 4 interceptions.
• Emerging Star: Ramsey quickly established himself as a force in the NFL with his speed, physicality, and exceptional ball skills.

Runner-Up: Darius Slay

• Stats: 60 tackles, 8 interceptions.

2018 NFL Season

Best Cornerback: Stephon Gilmore

• Stats: 53 tackles, 2 interceptions.
• Lockdown: Gilmore’s coverage skills earned him recognition as one of the premier cornerbacks in the league, earning his first First-Team All-Pro selection.

Runner-Up: Kyle Fuller

• Stats: 55 tackles, 7 interceptions.

2019 NFL Season

Best Cornerback: Stephon Gilmore

• Stats: 53 tackles, 6 interceptions, 2 touchdowns.
• Defensive Titan: Gilmore’s ability to shut down opponents’ top receivers earned him the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.

Runner-Up: Tre’Davious White

• Stats: 58 tackles, 6 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles.

2020 NFL Season

Best Cornerback: Xavien Howard

• Stats: 51 tackles, 10 interceptions, 20 pass deflections.
• Ball Hawk: Howard’s impressive interception count and pass deflections made him a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.

Runner-Up: Jalen Ramsey

• Stats: 44 tackles, 1 interception, 2 forced fumbles.

2021 NFL Season

Best Cornerback: Jalen Ramsey

• Stats: 77 tackles, 4 interceptions, 18 pass deflections.
• Dominance Continues: Ramsey’s combination of size, speed, and ball skills made him a game-changer for the Los Angeles Rams.

Runner-Up: Trevon Diggs

• Stats: 59 tackles, 11 interceptions, 14 pass deflections.

2022 NFL Season

Best Cornerback: Sauce Gardner

• Stats: 75 tackles, 2 interceptions, 20 pass deflections.
• Rookie Sensation: Gardner’s exceptional coverage ability earned him recognition as the highest-rated cornerback by PFF, showcasing his potential to lead the Jets’ defense into the future.

Runner-Up: Patrick Surtain

• Stats: 60 tackles, 2 interceptions, 10 pass deflections.

2023 NFL Season

Best Cornerback: Sauce Gardner

Stats: 57 tackles, 0 interceptions, 11 pass deflections.
Highlight: Despite not recording any interceptions, Gardner’s dominant coverage skills and ability to disrupt passes earned him Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors, reaffirming his top-tier status.

Runner-Up: Patrick Surtain

Stats: 69 tackles, 1 interception, 12 pass deflections.

2023 NFL Season

Best Cornerback: Sauce Gardner

• Stats: 57 tackles, 0 interceptions, 11 pass deflections.
• Highlight: Gardner’s impact on the field goes beyond statistics, evidenced by his elite pass coverage which earned him both Pro Bowl and First-Team All-Pro honors this season.

Runner-Up: Patrick Surtain

• Stats: 69 tackles, 1 interception, 12 pass deflections.

In this detailed exploration of the best NFL cornerbacks from each season, we delve into the pivotal roles these elite defenders play in shaping their teams’ fortunes. Our review covers everything from Rod Woodson’s early dominance to Sauce Gardner’s recent rise, offering a year-by-year analysis of top NFL cornerbacks. Through this historical cornerback performance review, we highlight how crucial their interceptions, tackles, and defensive skills are to the strategies and success of NFL teams. This analysis not only showcases the yearly cornerback rankings but also emphasizes the evolution and significance of cornerback roles in enhancing defensive game plans across the league’s storied history.

A Legacy of Lockdown: Celebrating the NFL’s Top Cornerbacks from Each Season, 1990-2023

For the most up-to-date NFL content, follow me on Instagram @sogfootball! I’m always open for debate.