Seau started 15 of the 16 games he played in during his rookie season, and was named an alternate to the 1991 Pro Bowl after recording 85 tackles. In 1991, he picked up 129 tackles and seven sacks and was named to the 1992 Pro Bowl, the first of 12 consecutive Pro Bowls for Seau. He was also voted NFL's Defensive MVP by the Newspaper Enterprise Association AFC Defensive Player of the Year by United Press International, as well as the NFL Alumni Linebacker of the Year and the NFLPA AFC Linebacker of the Year.