(Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Outside linebacker T.J. Watt and free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick were named first-team All-Pro today by the Associated Press. Defensive tackle Cameron Heyward was selected as second-team All-Pro.
Watt is a first-team All-Pro for the second straight year and is the odds-on favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year. Watt finished the season leading the league in sacks (15), tackles for a loss (23) and quarterback hits (41). Watt also has 53 total tackles, 43 of those being solos, two forced fumbles, seven passes defended and one interception. Watt was named team MVP for his outstanding 2020 season.
Fitzpatrick was also named first-team All-Pro in back-to-back seasons. Fitzpatrick finished the season with a team-high 74 total tackles, 60 of those being solos, 11 passes defended, one tackle for a loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and four interceptions, with one of them going for a pick-six.
Heyward this year had 54 tackles, 18 quarterback hits, seven tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, three passes defensed and one interception. Heyward was named first-team All-Pro in 2019 and 2017. Heyward had four sacks this year, so that's why he probably dropped to being named second-team All-Pro.
Rams' defensive tackle Aaron Donald and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce were the only players that were unanimous selections. Here's the list of the number of first-team votes Steelers' players received in the voting -- Watt (47), Fitzpatrick (18), Heyward (8), right guard David DeCastro (8), center Maurkice Pouncey (4), punt returner Ray-Ray McCloud (3) and interior defensive line Stephon Tuitt (1).
Surprisingly, Tuitt received just one vote. He had career-highs in sacks (11), tackles for a loss (10) and quarterback hits (25) this year. Tuitt was also snubbed from the Pro Bowl.