Former UCLA football player Carson Schwesinger has been named the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year at the 2026 NFL Honors event in San Francisco. This marks the first time a UCLA alumnus has received either the Offensive or Defensive Rookie of the Year award from the Associated Press.
Schwesinger joins other UCLA alumni who have earned major NFL honors, including Troy Aikman, Kenny Easley, and Bob Waterfield. He was also recognized earlier this winter as the league’s Defensive Rookie of the Year by the Professional Football Writers of America.
He is only the second player in Cleveland Browns history to receive Defensive Rookie of the Year recognition, following Chip Banks in 1982.
Schwesinger, from Moorpark, California, played a key role for the Browns during his rookie season in 2025. He recorded a team-high 146 tackles along with 2.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, nine quarterback hits, two interceptions, and three pass break-ups. He led all NFL rookies in both tackles and tackles for loss before missing Cleveland’s final game due to injury. His tackle total was the highest by a Browns rookie since 1999.
During his college career at UCLA from 2021 to 2024, Schwesinger achieved First Team All-America status and was a Butkus Award finalist as a redshirt junior in 2024. That year he led the nation with 90 solo tackles and topped the Big Ten Conference with 136 total tackles. He was also a semifinalist for the Burlsworth Award and was selected as the No. 33 overall pick in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
“Schwesinger becomes the first Bruin alum ever to be named Offensive or Defensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press. He joins an esteemed list of UCLA alums to earn major NFL honors that includes Troy Aikman (1993 Super Bowl MVP), Kenny Easley (1984 NFL Defensive Player of the Year), and Bob Waterfield (1945 NFL MVP).”
“While the AP Rookie of the Year is the honor officially recognized by the NFL, Schwesinger earlier this winter was also named the league’s Defensive Rookie of the Year by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA).”
“Schwesinger is just the second player in Cleveland franchise history to earn Defensive Rookie of the Year honors (Chip Banks, 1982).”
