Steelers’ TJ Watt Admits He Broke Team Rules And Submitted A Cam Heyward Sack For Review (Steelers News)
Steelers News

Steelers’ TJ Watt Admits He Broke Team Rules And Submitted A Cam Heyward Sack For Review

Matt Freed / Post-Gazette
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The Pittsburgh Steelers' sack master, T.J. Watt, was furious with the NFL during the 2023 season. He felt targeted, stating that he wasn't receiving the same holding calls that other stars were getting. Despite leading the NFL with 19 sacks in 2023 and having the best defensive stats, Watt did not win the AP Defensive Player of the Year Award. Instead, Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett took home the honor.

Steelers TJ Watt Myles Garrett

Matt Durisko / ap photo

Steelers' T.J. Watt meets with Browns' Myles Garrett after a game.

Controversy also surrounded Watt during the 2021 season when many believed he should have broken Michael Strahan's single-season sack record in Week 18 against the Baltimore Ravens. Several of Watt's sacks that season were recorded as half-sacks, often involving his teammate Cam Heyward.

In a recent interview with Kay Adams during training camp, Watt addressed the 2021 season's controversy. The pivotal play involved both Watt and Heyward collapsing on Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Watt humorously admitted that he broke a team rule by submitting the play for review, hoping to receive credit for the full sack.

"Oh, there’s a lot of them. We go back and forth," Watt told Adams. "We always say we can’t send in our sacks for review if it’s against one of our guys, but I have to say Cam, I sent that one in for review, but I got denied."

That wasn't the only controversial play during the 2021 season. In the final game against the Ravens, Watt brought down backup quarterback Tyler Huntley after a low snap. 

Steelers TJ Watt

Patrick Smith / Getty Images

Edge rusher, T.J. Watt, sacks quarterback Tyler Huntley during a Pittsburgh Steelers game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Although Watt was quick to capitalize on the error, rule analysts credited him with a tackle for a loss instead of a sack. Had that play been recorded as a sack, Watt would have broken the single-season record. However, the stat analysts did not credit him with the sack.

Watt has made it clear that while he doesn't play for personal accolades, he expects to be assessed fairly. If he feels he's being shortchanged by the NFL or statisticians, he will advocate for accurate recognition. Such matters are important for his legacy, and given Watt's dominance, he deserves proper credit for every play.

The tackle for a loss on Huntley is open to debate, with some believing it was correctly ruled given that Huntley was trying to abort the play, which typically doesn't count as a sack. You could also even argue that Huntley wasn't trying to abort the play. However, many argue that when Strahan set the record, Brett Favre was also attempting to abort the play, leading some NFL fans to question the legitimacy of Strahan’s record.

As the Steelers head into the 2024 season, Watt is ready to move past these controversies. Though he's tied with Strahan for the single-season sack record, he doesn't hold it outright. With a full season ahead, Watt will have more opportunities to break the record.


Steelers' TJ Watt Ready To Win His First Playoff Game

While Watt and Steelers fans would love for him to own the record, the primary focus is on winning his first playoff game in 2024. Watt has made it clear that this is his goal. 

Steelers TJ Watt

Associated Press

Steelers' T.J. Watt walks off the field in Week 7 after a big road win.

To achieve it, the Steelers will need another stellar season from him. With playmakers across the defense and Watt motivated by his 2023 AP DPOY snub, he's set to embark on a vengeance tour in 2024, aiming to dominate quarterbacks and make game-changing plays for the Steelers.

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