Jaguars linebacker Mike Peterson was today named by the NFL the AFC Defensive Player of the Month for December. Peterson finished the month with 58 tackles (30 solo), three sacks, two quarterback pressures and a tackle for a loss. The seventh-year middle linebacker recorded a career-high this year with 190 tackles for the 12-4 Jaguars and surpassed 100 tackles for the fourth consecutive season.

"It's a great honor for me and for my teammates," said Peterson. "Anything I win personally I always want to accept for my team. I couldn't have won this without our front seven and the defensive backs playing so well."

This marks the first AFC Defensive Player of the Month award for Peterson. He earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors in Week 11. It is the second AFC Player of the Month award for the Jaguars this season along with punter Chris Hanson in September.