Watt wins Defensive Player of Year, says it 'only motivates me more' taken on the South Side (Steelers)

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J.J., Derek and T.J. Watt, Thursday night in Inglewood, Calif.

T.J. Watt had been knocking on the door of being named Defensive Player of the Year in each of the previous two years. This season, he kicked the door down, winning the award, which was announced Thursday night at the NFL Honors show in Los Angeles.

Watt, who had finished third in the voting in 2019 and second in 2020, became the seventh player from the Steelers to win the award. Joe Greene won it twice. No other NFL franchise has won the award more than four times.

"My teammates and coaches back in Pittsburgh this truly is not possible without you guys," Watt said while also thanking his family. "I promise, this only motivates me more."

Fittingly, J.J. Watt announced the award.

Watt also becomes the second member of his own family to win the award. His older brother, J.J. Watt, has been named Defensive Player of the Year three times. Watt received 42 votes. Second-place finisher Micah Parsons, a Penn State product and Cowboys linebacker, got five, while former Pitt star and current Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, a three-time winner of the award himself, got three.

But Watt, 27, was an easy pick as the winner in 2021. After a lengthy contract negotiation that saw him sit out practices in the preseason and training camp, Watt signed a record 4-year, $112-million contract that made him the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL.

He responded with his best season, tying the NFL's single-season sack record with 22.5, marking the second consecutive season he's led the NFL in sacks.

Watt, who missed two full games with injuries, also had 64 tackles, forced five fumbles, recovered three others, and had seven pass defenses. His 21 tackles for a loss also led the NFL.

"I feel like I'm just about to be entering the prime of my career and that's why more than ever, I just want continue to find ways to get better at this game," Watt said.

That might be a scary proposition to opponents. In 77 career games, Watt has 72 career sacks, 22 forced fumbles and four interceptions.

His sacks are already third-most in team history -- since the sack became an official statistic in 1982 -- behind James Harrison (80.5) and Jason Gildon (77). L.C. Greenwood (78) and Greene (77.5) also rank ahead of Watt if pre-1982 sacks are taken into consideration.

But given that Watt has had at least 13 sacks in each of the past four seasons -- joining Hall of Fame defensive end Reggie White as the only player in league history to do so -- he seems a lock to become the franchise's all-time sack leader in 2022.

He became the third-fastest player to 70 sacks in NFL history this season, reaching that number in 76 games. Only White (56 games) and J.J. Watt (75) reached that number more quickly.

"I'm not huge on individual goals, but it's tough for me not to want that when I saw my brother at the height of his career win the award three times," Watt said "And I always just thought to myself, why can't I do that?"

Watt joins Greene (1972 and 1974), Mel Blount (1975), Jack Lambert (1976), Rod Woodson (1993), Harrison (2008) and Troy Polamalu (2010) as Steelers who have won the award. All but Harrison, who is not yet eligible, have also been voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

In addition to the NFL awards that were given out Thursday night, the Pro Football Hall of Fame also announced its 2022 induction class.

That group included former Jaguars and Texans offensive tackle Tony Boselli, 49ers defensive tackle Bryant Young, Packers safety LeRoy Butler, Patriots and Raiders defensive tackle Richard Seymour, Saints and Panthers linebacker Sam Mills, Raiders wide receiver Cliff Branch and contributor Art McNally. Former EaglesChiefs and Rams coach Dick Vermeil also will be inducted.

Other winners were Parsons as unanimous pick for Defensive Rookie of the Year, Bengals wide receiver J'Marr Chase as Offensive Rookie of the Year, the Bengals Joe Burrow as Comeback Player of the Year, the Titans' Mike Vrabel was named Coach of the Year, Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp was named Offensive Player of the Year and Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was voted league MVP.

Andrew Whitworth of the Rams was named Walter Payton Man of the Year. Cam Heyward was the Steelers' finalist for the award for charitable giving.

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