Quite possibly the Pittsburgh Steelers best player, TJ Watt has been known as one of the best pass-rushers in the entire league since he was drafted in the first-round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Since being drafted by the Steelers, he has been to the Pro Bowl five times, been named a First Team All-Pro three times, a Second Team All-Pro once, and he has led the NFL in sacks in two separate seasons. Oh, and he also won the NFL's Defensive Player Of The Year Award for his performance in the 2021 season. Now, he has extra motivation to play well in 2023.
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Steelers edge rusher, TJ Watt (#90) stretches prior to a practice during 2022 training camp at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Former NFL punter and current sports media superstar, Pat McAfee had Watt on his show on Monday for an interview. For the first half of the interview or so, McAfee was just praising Watt for how good he looks. Both physically and on the field in general. They then got into a discussion about Head Coach Mike Tomlin and how he always has his defense ready to perform at the highest level, and how that will translate to the 2023 season with all the new additions the team has on that side of the ball.
Matt Freed / Post-Gazette
TJ Watt celebrates an interception against the Bengals on opening day of the 2022 season.
Steelers' Watt Could Earn Half A Million Dollar Donation For Charity
Eventually, McAfee began asking Watt about the success he has had so far in his career. All the Pro Bowls, All-Pros, and other accolades that seem like they are building up to a Hall Of Fame career. Unprompted, McAfee promised Watt that if he breaks the single-season sack record of 22.5 sacks in 2023, he will be making a donation to a charity of Watt's choice.
"I can't wait to see what you do this season. 22.5 is a big number. You break it, we'll give $500,000 to a charity of your choice. We'll just make that bet right now."
Watt happily accepted the challenge. After all, he is a co-owner of the current record as he tied Michael Strahan with 22.5 sacks during the 2021 NFL season. This was a record originally set by Strahan during the 2001 season with the New York Giants. Watt also has the chance to break the Steelers' franchise record of sacks by a player. The record is currently held by James Harrison, who had 80.5 career sacks with the Steelers. Watt currently sits at 77.5 career sacks, with his teammate Cam Heyward currently at 78.5 career sacks. Each will likely break the franchise record in 2023, with Watt likely sitting on top of the record books while he is also gunning for the NFL's single-season sack record.
Jeffrey Becker / USA TODAY Sports
Cameron Heyward finished the season with 10.5 sacks, 4 passes defended and tied a career high 23 quarterback hits.
Watt will have a good opportunity to break the record of the franchise as well as Strahan's. With Cam Heyward eating up space and double teams on the interior, and the recent emergence of Alex Highsmith as the other outside linebacker, an offense will have a lot of threats that they will need to focus on along the Steelers' defensive line. When you add another interior lineman for the Steelers in Keeanu Benton, who was selected in the second-round of the 2023 NFL Draft and also had a very successful preseason, it's all looking like it could be a very successful season for Watt.
Watt was not at full health at all last season after he suffered a torn pectoral muscle in Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals. In the only game we saw Watt healthy in 2022, he was on an absolute terror recording a sack, three tackles for loss, two passes defensed, and an interception. Now at full health, and with a chip on his shoulder due to most media members seeming to forget how good he truly was before his injury, there is a chance Watt has another stellar season. McAfee better get ready to start writing that check.
What do you think of McAfee's friendly wager with Watt? Let us know in the comments below!
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