Two former Wisconsin Badgers named finalists for NFL Defensive Player of the Year

Two former Wisconsin Badgers finalists for NFL Defensive Player of the Year

Former Wisconsin Badgers Zack Baun (Philadelphia Eagles) and T.J. Watt (Pittsburgh Steelers) were named finalists for the AP Defensive Player of the Year on Thursday.

The inclusions are no surprise after the two were named first (Baun) and second-team All-Pro (Watt). The two are finalists for the award, along with Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson and Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain.

Related: Recapping Wisconsin football’s winter transfer portal movement

Watt is a perennial contender for the league-wide honor. The Wisconsin legend won it in 2021, finished second in 2020 and 2023, and was third in 2019. The seven-time Pro Bowl participant has four All-Pro first-team honors, plus this year’s second-team nod.

Watt finished the 2024 campaign with 61 tackles, 27 quarterback hits, 19 tackles for loss, 11 1/2 sacks, six forced fumbles and four pass deflections. Those numbers, while impressive, failed to increase over the last month of the season. Watt tallied just two total tackles and one for loss over the final three weeks. He then failed to crack the stat sheet during the Steelers’ playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Baun, on the other hand, is one of the best stories from the 2024 NFL season. The former Wisconsin pass-rusher (2016-19) struggled to find a role with the New Orleans Saints after he was a third-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft. He signed a small one-year contract with the Eagles last offseason, figuring to add depth to the linebacker room and special teams unit.

Instead, Baun broke out with 151 tackles (sixth-highest in the NFL), 11 for loss, five quarterback hits, 3 1/2 sacks, one interception, four pass deflections and five forced fumbles. He led an Eagles defense to a No. 2 finish in scoring defense (17.8 points per game) and No. 1 in total defense (278.4 yards per game).

Baun’s play is a big reason the Eagles are set to host the NFC championship game on Sunday.

The 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year will be announced during the NFL Honors ceremony on Thursday, Feb. 6. Patrick Surtain (45 tackles, four interceptions) is the current favorite to win the award.

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Colin Cowherd goes viral for trade proposal involving a Wisconsin Badger legend

Agree with Colin Cowherd’s trade proposal?

Fox Sports host Colin Cowherd put himself in the role of NFL general manager during Thursday’s edition of his national sports talk show, “The Herd with Colin Cowherd.”

He proposed a solution for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ current situation. That situation, specifically, is the team’s six consecutive playoff losses and eight overall seasons without a playoff win.

Related: Recapping Wisconsin football’s winter transfer portal movement

The Steelers, as Wisconsin football fans should know, are led by former Badger quarterback Russell Wilson and linebacker T.J. Watt. Their defensive line features tackles Isaiahh Loudermilk and Keeanu Benton, plus linebacker Nick Herbig. Any initiative taken to improve the team after years of playoff failures will likely include one or several of those players.

Cowherd’s proposal involves several of them. He proposed the following trade, the video explanation of which is up to 1.2 million views on X:

Steelers trade T.J. Watt, George Pickens and two first-round picks to a team at the top of the draft to select Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders.

“The Steelers have been putting band-aids on for six years,” Cowherd explains. “I think they have to rip it off. I would trade T.J. Watt, George Pickens and two first-round picks if your scouting department said, ‘Shedeur Sanders is the guy.'”

Here’s his full explanation:

This trade discussion is rooted in the team’s average and sub-par quarterback play since Ben Roethlisberger retired in 2021. It drafted Kenny Pickett in 2022, went 9-8 and 10-7 in his two seasons under center, and then went 10-7 again in 2024 with Wilson and Justin Fields splitting the duties.

Wilson gave the team an initial boost when he took over in late October, winning six of his first seven games. He and the Steelers then dropped four straight to close the season before a 28-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the wild-card round.

Cowherd’s contention is that new life is necessary under center, and Sanders is arguably the best quarterback in the draft.

The price of Watt, Pickens and multiple picks is steep, however.

Watt is among the top pass-rushers in the sport. Although he just eclipsed 30 years old, he has amassed 30 1/2 sacks and 38 tackles for loss over the last two seasons combined. There’s been no sign his game is slipping. Pickens, meanwhile, just led the team with 900 receiving yards.

“I think you have to go take the next big swing on this thing,” Cowherd continued. “If you want to find the next Big Ben … To me, there’s three teams in the league that are a quarterback away, the Colts, the Seahawks and the Steelers. If you got the right quarterback, they’re pretty interesting teams. But there’s no recent history to make me believe that Pittsburgh would get aggressive.”

The proposed trade certainly falls into the aggressive category. For our purposes, it would nearly eliminate our near-weekly update on the Steelers’ performance.

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Former Wisconsin Badgers quiet in Steelers playoff loss to Ravens

Former Wisconsin Badgers quiet in Steelers playoff loss to Ravens

Several former Wisconsin Badgers were nowhere to be seen on Saturday night as the Pittsburgh Steelers fell to the Baltimore Ravens 28-14 in the Wild Card round.

Quarterback Russell Wilson did deliver a respectable performance leading the Steelers’ offense, finishing with 270 passing yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. But otherwise, the group of former Badgers on the Steelers’ defense struggled to impact the game.

Related: Tracking former Wisconsin Badgers in 2025 NFL playoff Wild Card Weekend

The most notable stat line is T.J. Watt’s — zero tackles, zero sacks and zero pass deflections. He failed to register a single statistic as the Ravens totaled 464 yards of offense including a franchise record 299 rushing yards.

Watt hasn’t registered a sack since he suffered an ankle injury in the Steelers’ Dec. 15 loss to the Eagles. He’s played in four games since that date, tallying seven total tackles, one run stuff and one pass deflection. His lack of effectiveness rushing the quarterback was a big part of the Ravens’ ability to control the game.

Linebacker Nick Herbig had a similar outing, failing to record a single tackle. Other notable former Badgers on the Steelers’ defense are Isaiahh Loudermilk (three total tackles, two solo) and Keeanu Benton (four total tackles, two solo).

In all, those four defensive linemen combined for seven total tackles (four solo), zero tackles for loss and zero sacks.

Saturday’s result is the Steelers’ fifth consecutive playoff loss dating back to 2017. The Ravens with the victory move on to face the Texans or the Broncos, pending Sunday’s results.

 Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.

Which former Wisconsin Badgers are headed to the NFL playoffs?

Which former Wisconsin Badgers are headed to the NFL playoffs?

Following an 18-week season, 14 former Wisconsin Badgers are officially slated to suit up for the 2025 NFL Playoffs.

With the Denver Broncos’ 38-0 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, the playoff field is officially set. A total of 14 teams, seven from each conference, will appear in the postseason starting next weekend.

Of those 14 squads, nine feature Wisconsin football alumni. David Edwards (Bills), Kevin Zeitler (Lions), Rob Havenstein (Rams), Tyler Biadasz (Commanders) and Michael Deiter (Commanders) will lace up as former Wisconsin offensive linemen in the playoffs. Whether it be guard, center, or tackle, fans can find the greatest number of former Badgers on the offensive line this postseason.

Elsewhere on offense, running back Dare Ogunbowale (Texans) will return to the playoffs for the second straight season, while quarterback Russell Wilson (Steelers) will make his first playoff appearance since Jan. 9, 2021.

At linebacker, the most star-studded position for UW alumni this season, Leo Chenal (Chiefs) will look to collect his third consecutive Super Bowl, Andrew Van Ginkel (Vikings) will aim to make a deep run with Minnesota, Zack Baun (Eagles) will face the hungry Green Bay Packers in Philadelphia, and the group of  T.J. Watt, Nick Herbig, Keeanu Benton and Isaiahh Loudermilk (Steelers) will all return to the postseason under head coach Mike Tomlin.

The player with arguably the highest chance to advance to the Super Bowl is Chenal on the No. 1-seed Chiefs. Van Ginkel, Baun and Zeitler could each challenge the two-time defending champion if their teams come out of the NFC.

Steelers LB T.J. Watt praises Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes’ Week 17 performance

All-Pro #Steelers LB T.J. Watt praised #Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes after Pittsburgh’s Week 17 matchup against Kansas City. | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs won their 15th game of the season last Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, holding off a talented defensive unit led by star pass rusher T.J. Watt. The former Defensive Player of the Year shared his thoughts on playing against Patrick Mahomes during his Week 17 postgame press conference.

“Yeah, it’s no secret that he’s a (great) player. He has great weapons. They have a good scheme,” said Watt. “You can’t afford to spot them points and allow them to scramble around in the pocket and have time, and we didn’t have any success on any of the things I just said.”

Watt and the Pittsburgh defense could not pressure Mahomes enough for a sack, as the Chiefs’ offensive line stood firm throughout the contest. The recent switch of Joe Thuney to left tackle and Mike Caliendo to guard has been a significant factor over the three-game stretch.

Mahomes finished the game completing 29 of 38 passes for 320 yards with three touchdowns and a 127.1 passer rating. The performance against Pittsburgh’s defense marked his 48th regular season 300-yard passing game and his 56th career game with a 100.0+ passer rating.

Chiefs HC Andy Reid on quick gameplan for Week 17 vs. Steelers: ‘Coaches did a good job’

Kansas City #Chiefs head coach Andy Reid on quick gameplan for Week 17 vs. Pittsburgh #Steelers: ‘Coaches did a good job’ | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid spoke with reporters on Monday before the Christmas Day showdown with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He revealed the immediate plans to accommodate the rapid turnaround between games.

“Yeah. I mean, that’s part of what you have to do,” said Reid. “The coaches did a good job of spending some time before our game on Saturday looking at them, so we had a little bit of a jump start when we came back here to take a peek at him.”

After Saturday’s victory over the Houston Texans, the Chiefs travel to face the postseason-bound Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day.

“His (Mike Tomlin) teams are tough,” said Reid. “They’re well-coached, and they’re going to play hard every snap. They’re going to give you an honest down every snap, so you’ve got to come in ready to go.”

The Steeler’s defense showcases an intense pass rush led by Pro Bowler T.J. Watt and again puts the spotlight on the Chiefs’ offensive line, according to Reid, in their protection of Patrick Mahomes.

“Yeah, I tell you, similar to the other groups. I mean, they do a nice job of rushing the passer, all of them,” said Reid. “So it’s not just the outside guys; it’s those inside guys, too. The offensive line’s got another big challenge. I thought they fared pretty good last week. Did a nice job for the most part. They have to do it again. But that’s all part of this. They know that they take that responsibility seriously and prepare themselves the right way.”

Reid didn’t commit to a starting offensive line plan for Wednesday but did confirm that D.J. Humphries is still not practicing due to his hamstring injury.

Wisconsin legend dominates in Steelers thrilling win over Cincinnati Bengals

Wisconsin legend dominates in Steelers thrilling win over Cincinnati Bengals

Wisconsin defensive legend T.J. Watt registered another monster output in the Steelers’ 44-38 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

After notching just four tackles in the Steelers’ snowstorm loss against the Cleveland Browns on Nov. 21, Watt returned to the forefront of Pittsburgh’s defensive attack against Joe Burrow and the Bengals at Paycor Stadium.

Watt accumulated three solo tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble in the contest as the Steelers snagged their ninth win of the 2024 season.

Watt is now responsible for 9.5 sacks on the season and 106 sacks for his career. If he secures 0.5 more sacks this season, it would be the sixth campaign of 10 or more sacks for the generational talent.

Through 12 games, he now also leads the NFL in forced fumbles with five.

The former Badger’s most dominant defensive sequence came with just under five minutes remaining in the second quarter. With the game knotted at 21, Watt maneuvered around a Bengals offensive lineman to strip-sack Burrow and flip possession.

Kicker Chris Boswell would convert a 50-yard field goal to push the Steelers ahead 24-21 on the ensuing possession.

Watt wasn’t the only Badger alumnus that showed out on Sunday. Quarterback Russell Wilson threw for the second-most yards of his career in the victory, and outside linebacker Nick Herbig also recorded a strip-sack.

Watt will likely finish this season near the top of the Defensive Player of the Year voting. His crew is back on the gridiron on Dec. 8 vs. the Browns in Pittsburgh.

Russell Wilson, Zack Baun headline former Badgers on 2025 NFL Pro Bowl ballot

Russell Wilson, Zack Baun headline former Badgers on 2025 NFL Pro Bowl ballot

A total of 18 former Wisconsin Badgers were included on the 2025 NFL Pro Bowl Games ballot on Tuesday.

On the offensive side of the ball, 11 UW alumni were featured on the NFL’s voting list. The most notable include quarterback Russell Wilson (Pittsburgh Steelers), running back Jonathan Taylor (Indianapolis Colts), running back Braelon Allen (New York Jets), full back Alec Ingold (Miami Dolphins) and tight end Jake Ferguson (Dallas Cowboys).

Offensive linemen Rob Havenstein (Los Angeles Rams), David Edwards (Buffalo Bills), Kevin Zeitler (Detroit Lions), Tyler Biadasz (Washington Commanders), Tanor Bortolini (Colts) and Joe Tippmann (Jets) were also featured.

Defensively, tackle Keeanu Benton (Steelers), inside linebacker T.J. Edwards (Chicago Bears) and outside linebackers Andrew Van Ginkel (Minnesota Vikings), T.J. Watt (Steelers), Nick Herbig (Steelers), Zack Baun (Philadelphia Eagles) and Leo Chenal (Kansas City Chiefs) were selected as eligible for the ballot.

On the surface, the most surprising inclusions on the lists are Benton and Allen. While the list is nowhere near final, these former Badgers rarely receive national attention, and they will surely fail to make the final Pro Bowl roster.

Nonetheless, they’re eligible. A total of 69 defensive tackles and 42 running backs were featured on the ballot. Since both Benton and Allen have each logged 11 games and made a statistical impact for their respective teams, they ultimately appear on the ballot.

Baun, Watt and Van Ginkel are likely shoe-ins for the Pro Bowl Games this winter. With 105 total tackles, Baun is trending towards an All-Pro appearance, Van Ginkel is among the NFL’s sack leaders with nine sacks, while Watt is a perennial Pro Bowler.

This winter’s Pro Bowl features a flag football game and several skill competitions. It is slated for Sunday, Feb. 2 at 2:00 p.m. CT in Orlando, Florida.

Gimme Him: One player the Commanders would steal from the Steelers

The Commanders would steal on player from the Steelers this week if they could, and who wouldn’t want this player on their team?

This week, the Washington Commanders face a tough test when they host the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mike Tomlin has the Steelers in contention for the postseason nearly every year, and the Steelers’ defense is always one of the toughest in the league.

The Commanders’ defense, on the other hand, isn’t playing well in 2024. While they just got a boost with the acquisition of Marshawn Lattimore, the Commanders would still steal one player from Pittsburgh: TJ Watt.

Through eight games this season, Watt has recorded 33 tackles (24 solo), 6.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two passes defensed, and 7.5 stuffs for 10 yards.

But it’s not just his stats that make the Commanders want Watt on their side. Even when he’s not making tackles, he’s impacting the game in other ways. He often draws extra attention because he’s such a prolific player, which means other players get left open. And even when he is double-teamed, sometimes it just doesn’t matter. Watt is an animal on the field with a high football IQ and an unmatched level of anticipation. Opposing quarterbacks see him coming and panic.

Washington could use Watt’s production and leadership on their defense, and if you combine Watt with Lattimore, talk about solidifying your defense.

The Commanders haven’t made it past the Wild Card round since 2005, and with how they are playing, they will have a bye that week this year. At this pace, they’ll head straight to the divisional round this year, putting them ahead of anything they’ve done in 20 years.

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WATCH: Two Wisconsin legends combine to force Cowboys turnover on NFL Sunday Night Football

WATCH: Two Wisconsin legends combine to force Cowboys turnover on NFL Sunday Night Football

The Pittsburgh Steelers defense has the Wisconsin football program to thank for its immense success.

Former Badgers on the unit are T.J. Watt, Nick Herbig, Keeanu Benton and Isaiahh Loudermilk. The group put together a statement performance in the Steelers’ narrow 20-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.

Related: ESPN FPI updates Wisconsin football win chances for remaining 2024 schedule after Week 6 win over Purdue

Watt finished with eight tackles, 1 1/2 sacks, one tackle for loss and three quarterback hits. Herbig recorded two tackles, 1/2 sack, one tackle for loss, one quarterback hit, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Benton had a tackle, a pass deflection and a quarterback hit. Loudermilk, finally, blocked a Cowboys field goal.

There were many highlights of the night. One should mean the most to Badgers fans: Watt and Herbig, two program-great pass-rushers from entirely different eras, combined on a sack and forced fumble on Cowboys QB Dak Prescott:

Herbig was always compared to Watt as he ascended to stardom at Wisconsin. The two superstars actually put up similar numbers in their final collegiate seasons:

  • Nick Herbig 2022: 47 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 11.0 sacks, two pass deflections, two forced fumbles
  • T.J. Watt 2016: 63 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, one interception, four pass deflections, two forced fumbles

Watt has since gone on to become one of the most prolific pass-rushers in NFL history — his 1.5 sacks on Sunday night made him the second-fastest player ever to reach 100 sacks.

Herbig, meanwhile, is only in year two in the NFL after being selected in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL draft. His rookie season included 27 tackles, 3.0 sacks, five tackles, three quarterback hits and two forced fumbles. Those numbers are all trending even better through the first five games of 2024.

The comparison between the two will only continue if Herbig can ascend to NFL stardom. They have similar games, they wear the same NFL uniform and now, they’re even combining on sack-fumbles.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.