TJ Watt is not named NFL defender of the year

TJ Watt is not named NFL defender of the year

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Pittsburgh Steelers external linebacker TJ Watt received the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. Voters, instead, gave in to the defensive attack of the Los Angeles Rams, Aaron Donald. Donald narrowly overtook Watt for first place. CB Xavien Howard, of the Miami Dolphins, in third.

Donald won by seven votes, 27-20, over Watt. Howard received three votes.

Watt had a fantastic 2020, leading the league with 15 sacks. He became only the second Steeler to lead the NFL in sacks (since the statistic became official in 1982), joining Kevin Greene, who had 14 of them in 1994.

Watt also ended 2020 with 23 tackles by defeat in the NFL. He had 53 tackles in total and 41 QB strikes in 15 games, missing out on the regular season final against Cleveland. His 49.5 sacks in the first four seasons of his career are among the top ten of all time and by far the highest of any Steeler.

But it was not enough to take the hardware home. Donald received the nod, despite having fewer statistics in yet another game played. Donald ended the year with 13.5 sacks in 16 games, in addition to 45 tackles and 14 TFL. The only category that Donald finished best was forced fumbles, eliminating Watt 4-2. Donald is an excellent and future Hall of Fame player, but this looked like Watt’s year. However, the writing appeared to be on the wall with Donald winning the vote both in the NFL.com vote and in the results of the Professional Football Writers Association.

Six Steelers won the award, the last being Troy Polamalu in 2010. The others include: James Harrison, Rod Woodson, Jack Lambert, Mel Blount and Joe Greene. Greene is the only one to win twice.

The Defensive Player of the Year award started in 1971, when Minnesota Vikings’ DT Alan Page won it. New England Patriots CB Stephon Gilmore won in 2019. Older brother JJ Watt took this hardware home three times.

All three Watt brothers reacted after the award was announced.

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