In 2017, the Pittsburgh Steelers added an outside linebacker out of Wisconsin with the same last name as All-Pro DE JJ Watt. Looking back, I remember a lot people saying, "the Steelers drafted him due to his name," but that can't be further from the truth! TJ Watt and the Steelers haven't looked back since that 2017 NFL Draft. There's still a lot of angry fans of other NFL franchises because their favorite teams passed on the NFL's reigning Defensive Player of the Year and the Steelers were able to snag him at 30th overall!
In his five seasons with the Steelers, Watt has put up insane numbers! His sack totals have increased each year that he's been in the league and he's a 3x First Team All-Pro selection and 4x Pro Bowler. He's amassed 294 combined tackles (216 solos), 80 tackles for loss, 150 QB hits, 72 sacks, 22 forced fumbles, 7 fumble recoveries, 32 passes defended, and 4 interceptions. He's all over the field. Whenever the defense needs a big play, it sure seems like Watt is the guy making it!
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, T.J. Watt (#90) tackles Buffalo Bills quarterback, Josh Allen (#17) and forces a fumble on September 21, 2021. The Steelers beat the Bills 23-16. | Jamie Germano / ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE
CBS Sports and writer, Bryan DeArdo, released an article on Friday listing each NFL team's most likely future Pro Football Hall of Famer. Watt was picked as the Steelers representative. Here's what DeArdo had to say:
Pittsburgh Steelers: T.J. Watt, OLBCurrent Hall of Fame "lock?" No, but getting close
Watt's career is off to an historic start
Cameron Heyward has also put together a career worthy of Hall of Fame consideration. But the nod here went to Watt, the NFL's sack king each of the last two seasons. Last season, Watt matched Michael Strahan's 21-year-old NFL record for sacks in a season with 22. Last year's DPOY, Watt has 72 career sacks in 77 games. He also has 22 forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries.
We can all agree that Heyward should be on the list as well, he's just as deserving. Watt has exploded onto the NFL scene and has just taken over! He's only a 1x winner of the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year award (2021 season), but a lot of fans and analysts could argue that he should be a 3x winner of the award.
He's even been in the NFL MVP discussion this off-season!
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, T.J. Watt (#90) celebrates alongside defensive tackle, Cameron Heyward (#97) and linebacker, Alex Highsmith (#56). | NFL.com
NFL.com's Kevin Patra stated in an article earlier this week:
“If Watt breaks the record while dragging the Steelers to the postseason again, he’d be a shoo-in for back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards. But he’d deserve more, like becoming the first defensive MVP since Lawrence Taylor in 1986.”
With a lot of unknowns presented on the offensive side of the ball in 2022, the Steelers will have to depend on the defense that we know can be a dominant force. And it all starts with Watt! If he is able to continue the kind of tear he has been on for the last five seasons and breaks the single-season sack record, he should most definitely get recognition as the league's MVP!
No, he may not be a lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, yet, but he's definitely incredibly close, and that's just in five seasons!
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 08: T.J. Watt #90 of the Pittsburgh Steelers reacts during warm up before a game against the Chicago Bears at Heinz Field on November 08, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
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