Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt sees that winning the 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award would simply be a collective honor.

Watt took some time to speak to the NFL Network on the first day of Pro Bowl practice, where he opened up on just what it would mean to win this prestigious award for the first time in his career.

“It would be a great honor,” Watt said. “I know I get asked about it a lot, and it gets tiresome just because it's such an individual award but it's so much more than that. So many guys helped me, whether it was guys in coverage, guys in the rush with me as well. Just great schemes by the coaches as well.

“It'd be a great honor but it would be the Pittsburgh Steelers as a whole.”

As of late, Watt has come close to winning the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. He finished in third place in the 2019 vote behind eventual winner Stephon Gilmore and veteran pass rusher Chandler Jones.

Article Continues Below
More Pittsburgh Steelers News
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin sets up a timeout in the second quarter of the NFL Week 18 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025.
Next big move Steelers must make after securing Aaron Rodgers agreementDouglas Fritz ·
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) reacts following a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
When Aaron Rodgers will face Packers, Bears in 2025 NFL seasonJake Faigus ·
image thumbnail
3 Aaron Rodgers bold predictions for 2025 NFL season with SteelersJaren Kawada ·
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) is shown after he led Gang Green to a 32-20 victory against the Miami Dolphins, on Jan. 5, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J.
Aaron Rodgers makes Steelers ‘Super Bowl contenders,’ ex-QB saysLorenzo J Reyna ·
Steelers news: Pittsburgh's Super Bowl LX odds after signing Aaron Rodgers
Steelers’ Super Bowl LX odds after signing Aaron RodgersChris Spiering ·
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) throws his 500th career touchdown pass in the second quarter of the game against the Miami Dolphins
Aaron Rodgers, Steelers finally agree to contractScotty White ·

More so, he finished just behind Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald in last year’s vote. Although Watt capped off the campaign with a league-leading 15.0 sacks, Donald notched 27 first place votes en route to a third career NFL Defensive Player of the Year win.

Barring any major surprise, Watt is well slated to take home the 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award at the upcoming NFL Honors ceremony. Watt had a historic campaign to remember over the 2021 regular season, as his 22.5 sacks tied longtime New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan’s mark in 2001 for the most sacks in a season in NFL history.

Overall, Watt has recorded 72.0 sacks in 77 career games played with the Steelers.