The National Football League today announced that Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Yaya Diaby was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 18. It marks the first career Player of the Week honor for Diaby and the first for a Buccaneers edge rusher since Shaquil Barrett earned the award in Week 3 of the 2020 season.
In Tampa Bay's division-clinching win over the New Orleans Saints, Diaby notched five tackles (four for loss), 1.0 sack and four quarterback hits. He's 1-of-4 players this season with four-or-more tackles for loss and four-plus quarterback hits in a single game, joining Aidan Hutchinson (Week 2), Trey Hendrickson (Week 9) and Nick Bosa (Week 17). Diaby's four tackles for loss and four quarterback hits each were the second-most across the NFL in Week 18, and the most among all NFC players.
Through his first two NFL seasons, Diaby has amassed 92 tackles (64 solo), 28 quarterback hits, 25 tackles for loss, 12.0 sacks, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. He became the sixth player since 2017 to record 12.0+ sacks, 25+ quarterback hits and 25+ tackles for loss across their first 34 career games played, joining Nick Bosa, Bradley Chubb, Maxx Crosby, Myles Garrett and Micah Parsons.
Diaby has contributed to a Tampa Bay defense that has been among the league's best since the team returned from its Week 11 Bye. From Weeks 12-18, the Buccaneers led the NFL in rush defense (58.7 opponent rush yards per game) and ranked second in total defense (273.9 opponent yards per game), second in fewest points allowed per game (17.0) and second in fewest yards allowed per play (4.8).
The Atlanta native, and Louisville product, joined Sean Tucker (Offense – Week 6), Bucky Irving (Offense – Week 13) and Baker Mayfield (Offense – Weeks 15 and 17) as Buccaneers to claim a Player of the Week award this season. Diaby is now 1-of-5 edge rushers to claim the award in franchise history alongside Barrett (twice), Simeon Rice (twice), Broderick Thomas and Steve White.
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