T.J. Watt Makes Painful Admission After Disappointing 2023 NFL DPOY Snub – Gridiron Heroics

Baltimore, MD, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker TJ Watt (90) defends a pass against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

T.J. Watt missed yet another NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, and he is taking it personally. When it was announced that Myles Garrett won the award, not him, the Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker shared his thoughts via his X (formerly known as Twitter), summarized in five words.

“Nothing I’m not used to,” tweeted Watt as Garrett did his acceptance speech.

Myles Garrett Cleveland Browns — Myles Garrett during a game for the Cleveland Browns. Credit: Nick Cammett, Getty Images

Myles Garrett won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award for the first time. It was revealed that the Cleveland Browns defensive end had a 165-140 edge in voting over T.J. Watt.

Garrett finished the 2023 regular season with 42 combined tackles (33 solo), 14 sacks, three passes defended, and four forced fumbles, and the Cleveland Browns managed to make it to the NFL playoffs with an 11-6 record before losing to the Houston Texans in the wild-card round.

Does T.J. Watt have the right to feel snubbed?

T.J. Watt is entitled to feel bad about missing out because you could argue that he should have won more DPOYs in his NFL career.

Although he won one in 2021 after tying Michael Strahan’s single-season sack record (22.5), Watt lost to Stephon Gilmore in 2019 and Aaron Donald in 2020. In the 2019 regular season, T.J. Watt had 14.5 sacks and a league-best eight forced fumbles. And then, in 2020, he paced the NFL in sacks (15), tackles for loss (23), and quarterback hits (41).

t.j. watt pittsburgh steelers mike tomlin — Sep 24, 2018; Tampa, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) talks with Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin during the first half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

This season, T.J. Watt tied his career-high of 68 combined tackles (48 solo) along with 19 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, 36 quarterback hits, and four forced fumbles. But despite this, the Pittsburgh Steelers were ranked 21st in the league in total defense (342.1 defensive yards average).

T.J. Watt has bigger fish to fry next season

T.J. Watt doesn’t have to prove himself anymore because we all know what he brings to the table for the Pittsburgh Steelers. His main goal right now is helping his team win playoff games, which he has yet to achieve in his career.

TJ Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers — Oct 1, 2017; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) sacked by Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Stephon Tuitt (91) and linebacker TJ Watt (90) at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

“I’m not about the individual goals anymore,” Watt told CBS before the start of the 2023 season. “I’ve set myself up nicely where I’ve been having a good career, but it doesn’t matter if you’re not winning games when they matter most. I think that’s the no. 1 objective, for sure.