Steelers LB T.J. Watt named PFWA Defensive Player of the Year

Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt is the NFL’s best defender and he has the hardware to back it up.

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The Pro Football Writers of America announced its annual end-of-season NFL awards on Wednesday. Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt was named Defensive Player of the Year.

Watt tied the single-season sack record in 2021 when he notched 22.5 sacks in 15 games. Watt also led the league with 39 quarterback hits, 21 tackles for loss and 3 fumble recoveries.

The Steelers and Watt agreed on a four-year, $112 million contract extension just before the start of the season. Despite the struggles of the team, Watt earned every penny.

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