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Former Bruin walk-on and Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger won the 2025 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year on Thursday night at the NFL Honors in San Francisco.

Schwesinger – who was the No. 33 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft – garnered 156 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, 11 tackles-for-loss, three passes defended and two interceptions through 16 games. He also boasted nine games with double-digit tackles.

The former UCLA standout led the Browns and ranked sixth in the NFL in total tackles, earning him a PFF grade that ranked No. 21 among all linebackers in the league.

Schwesinger also played 97% of the Browns’ defensive snaps, helping anchor a defensive unit that was fourth in total defense, third in passing defense and tied for seventh in third-down defense.

The second round pick’s performance through 16 starts at middle linebacker earned him PFWA Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, a PFWA All-Rookie Team selection and an Athletic All-Rookie Team nod.

In Westwood, Schwesinger did not earn his first start until his fourth year on the squad during the 2024 campaign. In his breakout season, Schwesinger was named an AP First Team All-American, selected as one of five finalists for the Butkus Award – given to the nation’s best linebacker – and earned a First Team All-Big Ten selection.

The linebacker led the nation with 90 solo tackles and led the conference in total tackles with 136. He also added four sacks, 8.5 tackles-for-loss and two interceptions to his record tackle totals.

Schwesinger is the first off-the-ball linebacker to earn the award since Shaquille Leonard did it with the Indianapolis Colts in 2018.