In 2018, started all 16 games…recorded career-highs in tackles (68), TFLs (12), QB hits (21) and forced fumbles (6), while adding three passes defensed…tallied 6.0 sacks through the first five weeks of the season, becoming the first Steeler with at least 6.0 sacks through the first five games of a season since 2009 (James Harrison, 6.0)…his six defensive forced fumbles tied as the second-most by a Steeler in a single season since 1994 (James Harrison, 2008: 7).

In 2017, started all 15 games he played in during the regular season and one playoff game…finished his rookie season with 7.0 sacks, second-most by a rookie in Steelers history, the most sacks among all NFL rookie linebackers, and tied for the second-most among all NFL rookies…was the only NFL linebacker to finish the regular season with at least 50 tackles (52), 5.0 sacks (7.0), five passes defensed (8) and one interception (1).

Ranks fourth among NFL linebackers with 20.0 sacks since he entered the NFL in 2017.

Is the first Steelers linebacker since 2013-14 (Jason Worilds) to record back-to-back seasons with at least 7.0 sacks.

His 20.0 sacks in his NFL career are the most by a Steeler in their first two seasons in the NFL with the team since sacks became an official statistic in 1982.

Drafted by the Steelers in the first round (30th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• Ranks fourth among NFL linebackers with 20.0 sacks since he entered the NFL in 2017.
• Is the first Steelers linebacker since 2013-14 (Jason Worilds) to record back-to-back seasons with at least 7.0 sacks.
• His 20.0 sacks in his NFL career are the most by a Steeler in their first two seasons in the NFL with the team since sacks became an official statistic in 1982.
• Set a single-season career-high with 13.0 sacks in 2018 – becoming the first Steelers’ linebacker with 10 or more sacks in a season since 2010 (James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley) and tying as the ninth-most by a Steeler in a single-season since the stat became official in 1982.
• His 13.0 sacks in 2018 tie as the seventh-most by a Steeler in a single-season since the stat became official in 1982, Chad Brown (1996).
• With six forced fumbles in 2018, became the first Steeler with at least six forced fumbles in a season since 2010 (James Harrison: 6).
• His six defensive forced fumbles in 2018 tied as the second-most by a Steeler in a single season since 1994 (James Harrison, 2008: 7).
• Named AFC Defensive Player of the Week twice in 2018 (Weeks 1 and 5).

PRO (31-31/1-1): Drafted by the Steelers in the first round (30th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft.

2018 (16-16/0-0): Started all 16 games…recorded career-highs in tackles (68), TFLs (12), QB hits (21) and forced fumbles (6), while adding three passes defensed…tallied 6.0 sacks through the first five weeks of the season, becoming the first Steeler with at least 6.0 sacks through the first five games of a season since 2009 (James Harrison, 6.0)…his six defensive forced fumbles tied as the second-most by a Steeler in a single season since 1994 (James Harrison, 2008: 7).

• 9/9 at Cleveland: Named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his Week 1 performance…totaled single-game career highs in tackles (10 total / 7 solo) and sacks (3.0)…his 3.0 quarterback takedowns marks the second multi-sack game of his NFL career, both occurring on Kickoff Weekends (Sept. 10, 2017 at Cleveland and Sept. 9, 2018 at Cleveland)…also blocked what could have been a game-winning field goal by Cleveland in OT.
• 10/7 vs. Atlanta: Named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his Week 5 performance…led all defenders with game highs in tackles (8 / 6 solo) and sacks (3.0)...his 3.0 sacks set the third multi-sack game of his NFL career and second of 2018 – matching a single-game career high (3.0, Sept. 9, 2018 at Cleveland)...forced a fumble on his third sack of QB Matt Ryan, in the fourth quarter, which was recovered by LB L.J. Fort in the Falcons’ end zone for a touchdown.
• 10/28 vs. Cleveland: Tied for the team-lead with 7 tackles (6 solo), including a 4-yard sack and two tackles for losses...sacked QB Baker Mayfield in the third quarter, his seventh quarterback takedown of 2018...his 7.0 sacks in 2018 match his single-season career high of 7.0, set in his 2017 rookie season.
• 11/4 at Baltimore: Recorded 5 tackles (4 solo).
• 11/8 vs. Carolina: Recorded a 12-yard strip-sack of QB Cam Newton in the second quarter...increased his sack total to 15.0 – tying Keith Willis (1982-83) for the second-most by a Steeler in their first two seasons in the NFL with the team since sacks became an official statistic in 1982…set a single-season career high with 8.0 sacks, surpassing his 2017 rookie season of 7.0.
• 11/18 at Jacksonville: Recorded 6 tackles (all solo)…totaled 2.0 sacks, his third multi-sack game of his 2018 season, and the fourth of his NFL career...each of his sacks included a forced fumble, now with at least one strip-sack in back-to-back games...surpassed LaMarr Woodley for the most by a Steeler in their first two seasons in the NFL with the team since sacks became an official statistic in 1982.
• 12/16 vs. New England: Registered 3 tackles, all solo, a sack, tackle for a loss and three quarterback hits...brought down New England QB Tom Brady for a 7-yard sack in the third quarter.
• 12/23 at New Orleans: Recorded 3 tackles (all solo), one pass defensed and a 6-yard sack of QB Drew Brees.
• 12/30 vs. Cincinnati: Totaled 7 tackles (4 solo) and two defensive forced fumbles, including a 6-yard strip-sack of Cincinnati QB Jeff Driskel at the Bengals’ 12-yard line in the third quarter.

2017 (15-15/1-1): Started all 15 games he played in during the regular season and one playoff game…finished his rookie season with 7.0 sacks, second-most by a rookie in Steelers history, the most sacks among all NFL rookie linebackers, and tied for the second-most among all NFL rookies…was the only NFL linebacker to finish the regular season with at least 50 tackles (52), 5.0 sacks (7.0), five passes defensed (8) and one interception (1).

• 9/10 at Cleveland: Recorded 6 tackles (5 solo), 2.0 sacks (11 yards), two QB hits and an interception in his NFL debut….became the third player in NFL history and first on Kickoff Weekend to record 2.0 sacks and an interception in an NFL debut, joining Charles Glaze (Oct. 4, 1987) and Tommy Haynes (Oct. 4, 1987)...is the first Steeler with at least 2.0 sacks in their NFL debut since sacks became an official statistic in 1982 (previous mark, 1.5, Kenny Davidson, Sept. 9, 1990 at Cleveland)…is the first Steeler with at least 2.0 sacks and an interception in the same game since 2010 (LaMarr Woodley, Dec. 12 vs. Cincinnati)...brought down QB DeShone Kizer for losses of eight and three yards in the third quarter…picked off QB DeShone Kizer in the third quarter and returned the ball 17 yards.
• 11/16 vs. Tennessee: Credited with a field goal block on a K Ryan Succop 48-yard attempt in the second quarter –
• the first blocked kick by the Steelers since Oct. 16, 2016 at Miami (DT Daniel McCullers).
• 12/10 vs. Baltimore: Tallied 4 tackles (all solo) and three quarterback hits…sacked and stripped QB Joe Flacco for a loss of eight yards as the clock expired to end the game.

COLLEGE: Played in 27 games with 14 starts over a two-year span (2015-16) for Wisconsin…totaled 70 tackles, 17.0 TFLs and 11.5 sacks in his career…named Academic All-Big Ten for two straight years (2015-16)…as a redshirt junior in 2016, he was named first-team All-American by ESPN.com and Sports Illustrated and a second-team All-American by the AP, CBS Sports and Fox Sports, and he was named first-team All-Big Ten…recorded 11.5 sacks in 2016, the fifth-most in a single season in school history…moved to defense during the spring of 2015, and was part of a defense that ranked No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense, holding opponents to 13.7 points per game…missed the entire 2014 season due to injury…redshirted in 2013...was recruited by Wisconsin as a tight end…majored in retailing and consumer behavior.

PERSONAL: Attended the Pewaukee High School (Pewaukee, Wisc.)…was a first-team all-conference quarterback, linebacker and punter…named honorable mention all-area at linebacker by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel…threw for 527 yards with seven touchdowns, adding 554 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns as a senior, to go along with 42 tackles and 5.0 sacks on defense…also lettered in track and field…son of Connie and John Watt…his two brothers, J.J. and Derek, both play in the NFL…J.J. is with the Houston Texans…Derek is with the L.A. Chargers…Full name: Trent Jordan Watt.