NEW YORK (Tuesday, October 28, 2025) – Major League Soccer today announced Vancouver Whitecaps FC defender Tristan Blackmon as the 2025 MLS Defender of the Year. Blackmon is the first Whitecaps defender to earn the honor in club history, and the first Vancouver player to earn an individual year-end award since Pedro Morales was named the MLS Newcomer of the Year in 2014.
Blackmon had a breakout season in 2025, appearing in 25 regular season games (23 starts), scoring twice, and adding one assist in his eighth MLS season. In his 25 appearances this season, the Whitecaps had a 14-5-6 record, which included a stretch where Vancouver went unbeaten in his first 15 appearances of the season (10-0-5). His strong play at the back helped Vancouver set single-season club records in points (63), wins (18), goal differential (plus-28), and goals scored (66).
After his strong start to the season, Blackmon was named to the MLS All-Star team for the first time in his MLS career and was one of four Whitecaps players to represent the club in Austin, joining Sebastian Berhalter, Yohei Takaoka, and Brian White.
Over the course of 2025, Vancouver allowed just 38 goals in the regular season, which was the second fewest in MLS. In games Blackmon played, Vancouver allowed 1.08 goals per game compared to 1.22 goals per game allowed when he did not play. Blackmon led all Whitecaps players with 36 clearances, was third with 37 aerial challenges won, and had the most key passes among center backs (eight). He also added two game-winning goals – on the road against FC Dallas (March 15) and at home against Real Salt Lake (May 3). The center back also appeared in 11 of Vancouver’s 13 shutouts in 2025, starting 10 of those matches.
Throughout the 2025 season, Blackmon was integral to the club’s 2025 Canadian Championship title and run to the Concacaf Champions Cup final. Blackmon also received his first U.S. Men’s National Team call-up in 2025, starting both matches during the September international window, which included a 2-0 win against Japan where he played 83 minutes at center back.
The Defender of the Year award was voted on by MLS club technical staff, media, and current MLS players. Below is a breakdown of the voting results:
| MLS Defender of the Year Voting Breakdown |
| Name |
Media Vote |
Player Vote |
Club Vote |
Total Vote |
| Tristan Blackmon – Vancouver Whitecaps FC |
22.03% |
8.33% |
36.00% |
22.12% |
| Jakob Glesnes – Philadelphia Union |
10.73% |
10.42% |
24.00% |
15.05% |
| Kai Wagner – Philadelphia Union |
13.56% |
4.17% |
12.00% |
9.91% |
A full list of previous MLS Defender of the Year award winners can be found below:
| MLS Defender of the Year Winners |
| Season |
Player |
Club |
| 2025 |
Tristan Blackmon |
Vancouver Whitecaps FC |
| 2024 |
Steven Moreira |
Columbus Crew |
| 2023 |
Matt Miazga |
FC Cincinnati |
| 2022 |
Jakob Glesnes |
Philadelphia Union |
| 2021 |
Walker Zimmerman |
Nashville SC |
| 2020 |
Walker Zimmerman |
Nashville SC |
| 2019 |
Ike Opara |
Minnesota United FC |
| 2018 |
Aaron Long |
New York Red Bulls |
| 2017 |
Ike Opara |
Sporting Kansas City |
| 2016 |
Matt Hedges |
FC Dallas |
| 2015 |
Laurent Ciman |
Montréal Impact |
| 2014 |
Chad Marshall |
Seattle Sounders FC |
| 2013 |
Jose Goncalves |
New England Revolution |
| 2012 |
Matt Besler |
Sporting Kansas City |
| 2011 |
Omar Gonzalez |
LA Galaxy |
| 2010 |
Jamison Olave |
Real Salt Lake |
| 2009 |
Chad Marshall |
Columbus Crew |
| 2008 |
Chad Marshall |
Columbus Crew |
| 2007 |
Michael Parkhurst |
New England Revolution |
| 2006 |
Bobby Boswell |
D.C. United |
| 2005 |
Jimmy Conrad |
Kansas City Wizards |
| 2004 |
Robin Fraser |
Columbus Crew |
| 2003 |
Carlos Bocanegra |
Chicago Fire |
| 2002 |
Carlos Bocanegra |
Chicago Fire |
| 2001 |
Jeff Agoos |
San Jose Earthquakes |
| 2000 |
Peter Vermes |
Kansas City Wizards |
| 1999 |
Robin Fraser |
LA Galaxy |
| 1998 |
Lubos Kubik |
Chicago Fire |
| 1997 |
Eddie Pope |
D.C. United |
| 1996 |
John Doyle |
San Jose Clash |
