Being considered the Pittsburgh Steelers' Most Valuable Player is arguably one of the biggest compliments and accomplishments a player could receive in a career. This may sound biased, but I feel like this award carries more weight inside of the Steelers' organization, given names such as "Mean" Joe Greene, Jack Lambert, Jerome Bettis, Troy Polamalu, and Terry Bradshaw being members of the Steelers’ MVP club. With off-season camps looming and the preseason itching to get underway, let’s take a look at five players who could win team MVP in 2022.
First, let’s review the team MVP list going back to the 2010 season:
2010 - Troy Polamalu, S
2011 - Antonio Brown, WR
2012 - Heath Miller, TE
2013 - Antonio Brown, WR
2014 - Le’Veon Bell, RB
2015 - Antonio Brown, WR
2016 - Le’Veon Bell, RB
2017 - Antonio Brown, WR
2018 - JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR
2019 - T.J. Watt, LB
2020 - T.J. Watt, LB
2021 - T.J. Watt, LB
Without further ado, here are five players who could be added to that list in 2022:
Minkah Fitzpatrick, S
For Fitzpatrick to win MVP, it is going to have to be a result of an incredible interception number. With a healthy Steelers’ defensive front and linebacker corps, he should be able to lurk behind the defense and play center field. For reference in 2010, Polamalu made 7 interceptions with one touchdown, a forced fumble, a sack, and 49 solo tackles. In 2019, Fitzpatrick made 5 interceptions with a touchdown, 2 forced fumbles, and 44 solo tackles. In 2020, he made 4 interceptions with a touchdown, one force fumble, and 60 solo tackles. In 2021, Fitzpatrick statistically took a step back in the ‘turnover’ category. However, this was primarily due to the fact he was forced to play up closer to the line to help in the Steelers’ porous rush defense. In doing so, Fitzpatrick made the most tackles of his NFL career with 124 total tackles.
Seeing as though the 2022 defense in shaping up to allow Fitzpatrick to play more coverage, expect impressive interception numbers from him in 2022. In addition, Fitzpatrick and the Steelers are working towards a large contract extension, so if the Steelers pay Fitzpatrick’s asking price, he'll have some extra juice heading into the season.
Minkah Fitzpatrick (#39) get introduced at Heinz Field in 2021. | Photo via Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO
Diontae Johnson, WR
Johnson was one of the biggest leaders on offense in 2021 and he’s looking to continue that in 2022. Not to mention, Johnson is also seeking a lucrative contract extension and needs a big 2022 to help his cause. Johnson may seem as a dark horse candidate for team MVP in 2022, but his 2021 numbers are a strong indication of Johnson leading a young receiver corps in 2022. On paper, he is right at the cusp of ‘good’ and ‘great’ in Pittsburgh.
Back in 2003, Hines Ward was awarded the team MVP after posting 1,163 receiving yards with 10 touchdowns that season. In 2011 when Brown was recognized by the team for his first MVP award, he tallied 1,108 receiving yards with only 2 touchdowns. In 2021, Johnson had 1,161 receiving yards with 8 touchdowns. Even if Johnson increases his production by a mere ten percent in 2022, that definitely gets him in the ‘Team MVP’ conversation.
Diontae Johnson (#18) warms up during pregame at Heinz Field in 2021. | Photo via Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO
Cam Heyward, DL
In his incredible, successful career, Heyward has never won MVP. Seeing as though positions on the defensive line aren’t necessarily “glamorous,” he tends to get overshadowed. Heyward has been a 7-time team captain and is highly respected in the locker room. With Ben Roethlisberger now retired, this leaves Heyward as the longest-tenured player in the locker room. We’ve already heard of Heyward taking a larger leadership role within the team, and he’s going to be leaned on by several younger players for guidance. Heyward has been a consistent, reliable anchor on defense and is the definition of a team player. Heyward has won various player awards in his career, and team MVP should be added to that list.
Cam Heyward (#97). | Photo via Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO
T.J. Watt, LB
This may seem as an obvious projection; however, Watt may have the toughest hill to climb of any other MVP prospects in 2022. First, only one player in Steelers’ history has been recognized as team MVP four times; that being Brown. Not to mention, Watt is the only player in Steelers’ history to have been voted team MVP in three consecutive seasons; no one has done this four times. Watt had another historical season in 2021 and won the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year Award as a result. In addition to team MVP, the Steelers also awarded Watt with the largest contract in franchise history heading into the 2021 season. Just by looking at what he’s been able to do in his first five seasons, the bar is set high for Watt in 2022.
For Watt to secure his fourth consecutive team MVP title, he’ll have to set the NFL’s single-season sack record and be a turnover-machine. Last year, Watt forced 5 fumbles. Could he set a new personal record in that category with double-digits this season? If so, who’s to say he shouldn’t be named NFL MVP, let alone team MVP?
TJ Watt (#90) celebrates at Heinz Field. | Photo via Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO
Najee Harris, RB
After being drafted 24th overall in 2021, Harris was the three-down running back the Steelers needed last season. Even with a make-shift offensive line leading the way, Harris was able to tally 1,200 rushing yards with another 467 yards through the air and scored 10 touchdowns. In comparison to another MVP running back in recent history being Bell in 2016, Harris is right in lock-step with him on paper. In 2016, Bell ran for 1,268 yards on the ground, posted 616 receiving yards, and scored 9 touchdowns. Reading those numbers, there is no reason to believe Harris won’t surpass them in 2022.
With General Manager Kevin Colbert and head coach Mike Tomlin effectively rebuilding a solid offensive line through the off-season, Harris is going to get the holes he needs at the line to move the ball down the field. I’d argue that comparing to where the Steelers’ offensive line was last year, Harris is going to be put in the best position possible to succeed in 2022. If Harris is able to rack up over 1,750 all-purpose yards, there is no reason as to why he shouldn’t be considered the team’s MVP.
Najee Harris (#22) gets introduced at Heinz Field in 2021. | Photo via Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO
Who do you think will win team MVP in 2022? Let us know in the comments below!
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