PITTSBURGH, Pa. (PTTP) — Late Thursday night, the Associated Press (AP) doled out their annual National Football League (NFL) season awards. Among the recipients, Steelers standout linebacker T.J. Watt won Defensive Player of the Year, the first of his career.
After being drafted in 2017, Watt has consistently been one of the top defenders in the game. In the past three seasons, Watt has been named a DPOY finalist three times, being beaten out by Aaron Donald twice, and Stephon Gilmore.
Watt had a stellar 2021 performance as he led the league and tied the NFL record for sacks with 22.5. Watt also led the league in Tackles for Loss, and Quarterback Hits.
Watt is the NFL’s highest-paid defensive player after signing a $112 million contract extension through the 2026 season. When you have a perennial DPOY candidate, now with a win under his belt, the exorbitant salary doesn’t seem all that unreasonable.