T.J. Watt

In 2019, started all 16 games…recorded 55 tackles, 14.5 sacks, 36 quarterback hits, 14 tackles for a loss, 8 passes defensed, 8 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries and 2 interception

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).

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:

• Named Pittsburgh Steelers' 2019 Most Valuable Player.
• First defensive player to earn Steelers' MVP since Troy Polamalu in 2010.
• Named First Team All-Pro in 2019 by the Associated Press (edge), Pro Football Writers Association and Sporting News.
• Named Second Team All-Pro in 2019 by the Associated Press (linebacker).
• Selected to his first NFL Pro Bowl in 2019 (second overall appearance after playing in the '19 game in place of an injured player).
• His 14.5 sacks in 2019 rank third in single-season franchise history. 
• First Steelers player with at least a half sack in 9 consecutive games since LaMarr Woodley had a streak of 10 such games (franchise record) that spanned the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
• His streak of 9 straight games with at least a half sack, which was the longest active streak in the League at the time, came to an end in the 2019 Week 14 victory at Arizona.
• His 9-game streak was tied for the fifth-longest in NFL single season history.
• First Steelers player with back-to-back seasons of at least 10 sacks since James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley (2008-10).
• Has recorded 34.5 sacks and 15 forced fumbles since entering the NFL in 2017.
• One of three active players in the NFL with at least 13.0 sacks in consecutive seasons.
• Has recorded at least 13.0 sacks twice in his 3-year NFL career.
• Seventh player in NFL history to register at least 13.0 sacks twice over their first three years in the League.
• His 15 forced fumbles are the most in the NFL since the start of the 2017 season.
• His 34.5 sacks rank fifth among all defensive players and first among linebackers since the start of the 2017 season.
• Recorded 34.5 sacks over his first 47 career regular-season games, which was tied for the 14th-most for any NFL player over their first 47 career NFL games.
• His 34.5 career sacks are the most by a linebacker over his first 47 career regular-season games since Denver's Von Miller (44.0, 2011-14).
• His 34.5 career sacks are the fifth-most by a linebacker over his first 47 career regular-season games.
• Registered his 30th career sack in 41st career game, which made him the fastest player to 30 career sacks in franchise history and 13th-fastest in NFL history.
• Collected 34.5 sacks over his first 3 seasons in the NFL, which is the most by a Steelers player in their first 3 seasons in the League.
• Led Pittsburgh's defense and tied for second among all NFL linebackers with 13.0 sacks in 2018.
• Recorded 20.0 quarterback sacks over his first 2 seasons in the NFL (2017-18). 
• Ninth linebacker in NFL history with at least 20.0 sacks in their first 2 seasons in the League.
• Started his career in historical fashion when he became the first player to record at least 2.0 sacks and an interception in an NFL debut on Kickoff Weekend, finishing with 6 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 2 TFLs, 1 quarterback hit and 1 interception.
• Third player in NFL history to record 2.0 sacks and an interception in an NFL debut, joining Charles Glaze (Oct. 4, 1987) and Tommy Haynes (Oct. 4, 1987).
• First Steelers player with at least 2.0 sacks in their NFL debut.
• First Steelers player with at least 2.0 sacks and an interception in the same game since 2010 (LaMarr Woodley, Dec. 12 vs. Cincinnati).
• His 13.0 sacks in 2018 were tied for the eighth-most in a season by a Steelers' defender since the statistic became official in 1982.
• Only player in franchise history with 13.0 sacks or more in multiple seasons.
• Recorded at least 1.5 sacks in 8 career games, including 4 games in 2019.
• Named AFC Defensive Player of the Week twice in 2018 (Weeks 1 and 5).
• Named AFC Defensive Player of the Month for November in 2019.

PRO (47-47/1-1): Drafted by the Steelers in the first round (30th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft.

2019 (16-16/0-0): Started all 16 games…recorded 55 tackles, 14.5 sacks, 36 quarterback hits, 14 tackles for a loss, 8 passes defensed, 8 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries and 2 interceptions…ranks first or second on the Steelers in sacks (14.5, 1st), tackles for loss (14, 2nd), quarterback hits (36, 1st), forced fumbles (8, 1st) and fumble recoveries (4, t-1st)…ranked in the top-five in the NFL in sacks (t-4th), quarterback hits (3rd), forced fumbles (t-1st) and fumble recoveries (t-2nd)…nearly became the first player in the NFL to rank in the top-five in sacks, tackles for loss, quarterback hits, forced fumbles and fumble recoveries in a season since Houston Texans' J.J. Watt in 2014…only NFL player since 2008 to have at least 14 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, 36 quarterback hits, 8 forced fumbles and 4 fumble recoveries in a season…his 14 combined interceptions (2), forced fumbles (8) and fumble recoveries (4) are the most by an NFL player since Chicago Bears' Charles Tillman in 2012 (15)…his 14 combined interceptions (2), forced fumbles (8) and fumble recoveries (4) are tied for the second-most by an NFL player since 2000…his 6 total takeaways (interceptions and fumble recoveries) ranked tied for fourth in the NFL…only NFL player since 1990 to register at least 2 interceptions, 4 fumble recoveries and 8 forced fumbles in a single season.

• 9/8 at New England: Recorded 2 tackles (1 solo) and 3 QB hits. 
• 9/15 vs Seattle: Recorded 6 tackles (3 solo), forced a Seattle fumble recovered by Steelers LB Mark Barron and took down Russell Wilson on an 8-yard sack in the first quarter.
• 9/22 at San Francisco: Registered 2 solo tackled, 2 passes defensed, a fumble recovery and an interception…his interception, which took place on San Francisco's opening drive, was the second interception of his career…his fumble recovery in the fourth quarter marked the first fumble recovery of his career. 
• 9/30 vs Cincinnati: Registered 1.5 sacks, 3 QB hits, 1 fumble recovery and 1 TFL…has recorded fumble recoveries in back-to-back games.
• 10/6 vs Baltimore: Recorded 5 tackles (4 solo) with 3 TFLs and registered a sack for the second straight week, taking down Lamar Jackson in the second quarter for a 6-yard loss. 
• 10/13 at L.A. Chargers: Split a 4-yard sack of Phillip Rivers with LB Anthony Chickillo…added 3 assisted tackles.
• 10/28 vs Miami: Registered 3 solo tackles, 3 QB hits, 2.0 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery…registered his fifth career game with 2 or more sacks…registered his third game with 2 or more forced fumbles.
• 11/3 vs Indianapolis: Recorded 3 tackles (2 solo) with 1 TFL, 1.5 sacks and 3 QB hits…marks his third game this season with 1.5 or more sacks.
• 11/10 vs L.A. Rams: Registered 5 tackles (4 solo), 2.0 sacks for a combined loss of 15 yards and forced a Rams fumble late in the fourth quarter.
• 11/14 at Cleveland: Tallied 4 tackles (2 solo) with 1 TFL, 2 QB hits, 1 pass defensed, and a sack of Baker Mayfield.
• 11/24 at Cincinnati: Registered 2 solo tackles, a 9-yard sack of Ryan Lindley, 1 pass defensed and 1 forced fumble. 
• 12/1 vs Cleveland: Registered 2 tackles (1 solo) with 1 TFL, 2 QB hits and a 6-yard sack of Baker Mayfield. 
• 12/8 at Arizona: Recorded 2 tackles (1 solo) with 1 TFL, 1 QB hit and intercepted a pass from Kyler Murray in the end zone on the Cardinals first drive of the fourth quarter.
• 12/15 vs Buffalo: Registered 4 tackles (3 solo) with 2 TFLs, 2 QB hits, 1 pass breakup, 1 forced fumble and split a sack of Josh Allen with LB Vince Williams. 
• 12/22 at New York Jets: Recorded 5 tackles (2 solo), 2 QB hits and strip-sacked Sam Darnold, recovering his own forced fumble for a Steelers takeaway.
• 12/29 at Baltimore: Registered 5 tackles (4 solo), 2 QB hits, forced a Baltimore fumble recovered by Steelers CB Joe Haden and split an 8-yard sack of Robert Griffin III with DB Mike Hilton.

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)…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 as a redshirt junior in 2016…also named first-team All-Big Ten in 2016…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…recruited to Wisconsin as a tight end…graduated with a degree in retailing and consumer behavior.

PERSONAL: Attended the Pewaukee High School (Pewaukee, Wisc.)…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 TDs, adding 554 rushing yards and nine rushing TDs as a senior, to go along with 42 tackles and 5.0 sacks on defense…lettered in track and field…son of Connie and John Watt…his two brothers, J.J. and Derek, both play in the NFL…Derek is a teammate with the Steelers…J.J. is with the Houston Texans…full name: Trent Jordan Watt.