Steelers' TJ Watt Detailed His Cryptic Tweet "I Wanted To Let Them Know Why"

Pittsburgh Steelers star linebacker TJ Watt's noticeable absence at the NFL Honors Ceremony on Thursday night sent shockwaves throughout the football community, especially considering he was a top contender for the prestigious Defensive Player of the Year Award. 

Just moments before the event kicked off, Watt took to Twitter to share a cryptic message. 

Simultaneously, on Instagram, he posted a story that mentioned that he was "playing hooky." 

Steelers' TJ Watt Explains Why He Skipped The NFL Honors Ceremony

The conspicuous absence didn't go unnoticed. During the Super Bowl LVIII festivities on Friday night, SB Nation’s Jon Acosta approached Watt to inquire about his decision to skip the ceremony and the mysterious tweet he sent out roughly an hour before the event started.

“Yeah, I mean, I think that’s up for everybody to kind of debate. It was one of those things where people were seeing that I wasn’t there. I wanted to let them know why I wasn’t there, and it was a situation where it is something I’m truly used to at this point so I will just use it as motivation going forward.”

Watt's intentions were clear, yet some perceived them as selfish, especially given his teammate Cam Heyward's nomination for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, which he ultimately won. Some criticized Watt's decision not to attend the event, arguing that it lacked consideration for other award recipients.

Watt sought to inform his followers and fans about his choice to skip the ceremony while expressing his determination to turn the situation into motivation for the future. If fans were impressed by his performance in 2023, they can expect even greater feats in 2024, fueled by his newfound motivation. 

Despite Watt's stellar performance in the 2023 season, the Defensive Player of the Year Award surprisingly went to Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns. While Garrett had an incredible 2023 season, Watt had outperformed Garrett in every significant statistical category. Watt notably led the NFL in sacks with an impressive tally of 19 during the 2023 season. Based off of Watt's comments about motivation for next year, we can assume he will beat that sack total in 2024.

The controversial decision ignited heated debates across social media platforms, with Browns fans rallying behind Garrett's win while Steelers supporters vehemently argued in favor of Watt. Nevertheless, impartial analysts chimed in, with many concurring that Watt was unjustly snubbed for the award.

Adding to the controversy, Dallas Cowboys' standout linebacker Micah Parsons stirred the pot further by publicly endorsing Garrett's win and going as far as to suggest that Watt wasn't even among the top five pass rushers in the league. Such a statement seemed incredulous, especially given Watt's league-leading sack count.

Yet, amidst the swirling controversy, Watt's resolve to excel in the upcoming season remains unwavering. He draws strength from the acknowledgment of his own capabilities and the unwavering support of his loyal fanbase. Steeler Nation has been very vocal in the support of Watt being snubbed by the NFL. They will be eager to see Watt take the field in Pittsburgh in 2024.

As the dust settles from the contentious award decision, all eyes are on Watt as he prepares to unleash his fury on the field in the forthcoming season, fueled by the determination to prove his doubters wrong and cement his status as one of the league's most dominant defensive forces once again. Watt is 29 years old and still is hungry to get the Steelers back to postseason glory. He will have a chance to do just that in 2024.

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