In 2019 TJ Watt was ending his season looking forward to becoming a first-time Defensive Player of the Year recipient. Unfortunately, that did not come true. He was snubbed from the award and it was given to Stephon Gilmore who had a far less Defensive Player of the Year season than TJ Watt. It seems every season there is one or two Pittsburgh Steeler players who continuously get snubbed. From the Pro Bowl all the way to the NFL Awards being given out at the end of the season. For example, Stephon Tuitt deserved to be in the Pro Bowl this season. Regardless the NFL should do what is right this season. Crown TJ Watt as the Defensive Player of the Year.
TJ Watt has had a monster 2020 season. A season that was very unique and very troubled. Many players had to worry about Covid-19 throughout the 2020 season which made their training regimens different, practices different, and game days without fans. I could go on and on about how unique the 2020 season was, but TJ Watt never missed a beat. He ended the 2020 season with the Triple Crown in Sacks (15), Tackles for Losses (23), and QB hits (41). TJ had 53 solo tackles, 10 assists, 15 sacks, and 1 interception in just 15 games. Those are incredible numbers.
TJ Watt is only in his 4th Season with the Pittsburgh Steelers and he currently has 49.5 sacks. No that is not a typo either. Bruce Smith recently did an interview with TMZ Sports saying TJ Watt will be the closest player to break his All-Time Sack Record (200 Sacks) if he stays healthy throughout his career. Smith says he is impressed that TJ Watt already has 49.5 sacks in 4 seasons and health will be a factor if he can break the record. Bruce Smith says he would love for a player to break his Sack record.
Right now there are a couple of articles circling around saying that TJ Watt and Aaron Donald are virtually tied for the Defensive Player of the Year Award. Donald is a great talent, but doesn't come close to the season TJ has had this season. Not in Sacks, Tackles for Losses, Combined Tackles, QB hits, and Interceptions. The media should just go ahead and sit this one out this season. It's time to put the bias aside from the Pittsburgh Steelers because TJ Watt is the most deserving to win the Defensive Player of the Year this Season. It is not even a debate anymore. This will be the biggest snub in NFL's History if TJ Watt does not win Defensive Player of the Year in 2020. It's time to Crown TJ Watt his first Defensive Player of the Year Award for the 2020 Season.