In the race for Defensive Player of the Year, T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers has fallen short as Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns emerges as the winner. The Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) bestowed the prestigious award upon Garrett, recognizing his exceptional performance throughout the season. While Watt is still awaiting the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, which will be announced in two weeks, this initial setback suggests an uphill battle for the Steelers linebacker.

Although the AP award is considered the official honor, the PFWA's choice traditionally aligns with it. Over the last decade, the PFWA and AP have only disagreed on the best defensive player on three occasions. One such instance occurred in 2017 when Calais Campbell was selected by the PFWA, while Aaron Donald received the AP honor. In 2010, Troy Polamalu won the AP award while Clay Matthews was favored by the PFWA.

This season, Watt's outstanding performance placed him at the top of numerous statistical categories. With 19 sacks, Watt led the NFL, surpassing Garrett's seventh-place standing with 14 sacks. Watt also recorded an impressive 36 quarterback hits, tied for second in the league. Additionally, he ranked highly in defensive fumble recoveries (three) and forced fumbles (four), as well as tackles for loss (19).

Comparing their individual performances, Watt outshone Garrett in various areas. Watt accumulated 68 tackles, more than Garrett's 42, and also had a higher number of solo tackles (48 to 33). Furthermore, Watt showcased better skills in pass defense, with eight passes defended compared to Garrett's three.

It is worth noting that the Browns had the top-ranked total defense in terms of yards allowed, while the Steelers ranked 21st. However, the Steelers' defense allowed fewer points per game, strengthening Watt's case for the award.

This setback for Watt comes after finishing as the runner-up for the AP Defensive Player of the Year award to Aaron Donald in 2020, and placing third in the AP balloting in 2019. Nevertheless, Watt retains hopes of clinching the AP honor, the winner of which will be announced during the NFL awards show on February 8.

In other news related to the Steelers, quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan has interviews scheduled with the Las Vegas Raiders and New Orleans Saints for their vacant offensive coordinator positions. Sullivan assumed play-calling duties for the final eight games, after the dismissal of Matt Canada, and has prior experience as an NFL coordinator. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has indicated that the team is considering external candidates for a permanent offensive coordinator role.

As the Steelers await the outcome of the AP Defensive Player of the Year award, fans can stay informed about the team's latest news and updates by visiting the Pittsburgh Steelers section.

Chris Adamski, a dedicated reporter for TribLive, has been covering the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014, following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A native of Western Pennsylvania, Adamski has been covering Pittsburgh sports for the past decade and can be contacted at cadamski@triblive.com.

Categories: Sports | Steelers/NFL