Ground Report

Pittsburgh Steelers LB James Harrison Named 2008 GMC Sierra Defensive Player of the Year
01/29/2009

PITTSBURGH STEELERS LB JAMES HARRISON NAMED
2008 GMC SIERRA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Harrison Wins Fan Vote On NFL.com

Pittsburgh Steelers LB JAMES HARRISON is the 2008 GMC SIERRA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR, GMC and the National Football League announced today.

Harrison recorded a career-high 101 tackles and totaled 16 sacks during the season, including three in Week 1 in the Steelers’ 38-17 win over the Houston Texans. In Week 11, Harrison had a sack, forced a fumble and recorded a safety in one play, and also returned an interception 33 yards in the Steelers’ 11 – 10 win over the San Diego Chargers. Harrison led the Steelers’ defensive effort with nine tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles, both recovered by Pittsburgh, in the Steelers’ 33-10 win over the New England Patriots in Week 13. Harrison was nominated for two GMC Sierra Defensive Player of the Week awards, winning twice.

More than 672,000 fan votes were submitted for the 2008 GMC SIERRA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR on NFL.com from January 3 through January 29.

Harrison was one of five finalists for the honor. The other finalists were defensive tackle ALBERT HAYNESWORTH of the Tennessee Titans, linebacker JOEY PORTER of the Miami Dolphins, free safety ED REED of the Baltimore Ravens and linebacker DE MARCUS WARE of the Dallas Cowboys.

The five finalists were selected for their outstanding performances throughout the 2008 NFL season. Each week, five nominees were chosen for GMC Sierra Defensive Player of the Week and NFL fans voted for the winner on NFL.com. Those results were used to help determine the finalists.

This is GMC’s fourth year as the official vehicle of the NFL and the second year that GMC will present the Defensive Player of the Year award.

Below are the winners of the 2008 GMC SIERRA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK awards:

2008 GMC SIERRA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Wk 1
LB LaMarr Woodley, PIT

Wk 2
SS Troy Polamalu, PIT

Wk 3
LB Joey Porter, MIA

Wk 4
DT Albert Haynesworth, TEN

Wk 5
CB Antoine Winfield, MIN

Wk 6
DE Juqua Parker, PHI

Wk 7
LB LaMarr Woodley, PIT

Wk 8
DT Shaun Rogers, CLE

Wk 9
DE Justin Tuck, NYG

Wk 10
LB Ray Lewis, BAL

Wk 11
LB James Harrison, PIT

Wk 12
S Ed Reed, BAL

Wk 13
LB James Harrison, PIT

Wk 14
CB Deshea Townsend, PIT

Wk 15
LB DeMarcus Ware, DAL

Wk 16
DE Jason Jones, TEN

Wk 17
S Tyrone Carter, PIT