The Pittsburgh Steelers nailed the 2017 NFL Draft. It doesn't really matter what happened in rounds two through seven when the first-round selection that year was TJ Watt. A generational pass rusher, the 2021 AP Defensive Player of the Year has been a dominant force since coming out of the University of Wisconsin. Has has 114 career sacks, which is certain to land him in the Hall of Fame one day. He signed another fresh contract in the 2025 offseason, but hasn't been consistent as the fan base would like him to be. Regardless, he remains a stout defender and leader on the team.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers edge rusher TJ Watt stands on the field as he enjoys a veteran day off while the team works out during a 2025 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
It's not the easiest thing in the world to keep one's body in peak shape for a decade or more, but Watt is closing in on accomplishing that. He has been able to remain healthy in recent seasons, which has been a huge plus for the Steelers' defense. Down the stretch, he will hopefully get to the quarterback a little more often, as he only has six sacks on the season. That number is respectable, but not nearly up to par with what he expects.
Ever since 2017, Watt has had an ongoing rivalry with another phenomenal edge rusher. The Cleveland Browns may not have any playoff aspirations currently, but Myles Garrett has been a freak of nature. It is what fans in the NFL have come to expect, and the Baltimore Ravens got a little taste of that on Sunday when the former first overall pick secured four sacks in a 23-16 loss.
It has become a pretty normal theme for the Browns to lose a game when Garrett dominates throughout the majority of it. For him, it's what he signed up for after he requested a trade, but then accepted a massive extension worth $40 million per year. He may earn another accolade over Watt in 2025, however. Cleveland's best player is on pace to break the single-season sack record.
Myles Garrett is up to 15.0 sacks this season.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) November 17, 2025
Current 17-game pace: 25.5 sacks.
Watt had the honor of tying Michael Strahan's long-standing statistic of 22.5 sacks in a year back in 2021. The most impressive part was that the Steelers' edge rusher only played in 15 games that season. Right now, if Garrett keeps on pace, he will own it all to himself, and it may not be close. Additionally, it may not even be breakable if he does get 25 or more.
AP Photo / Matt Durisko
Steelers' star pass rusher TJ Watt shares a brief postgame moment with Browns defensive standout Myles Garrett following a hard-fought AFC North battle between Pittsburgh and Cleveland that took place at Acrisure Stadium.
The Defensive Player of the Year award is a coveted one in the game of football. Entering Week 11, there seemed to be some strong competition for the 2025 version of the honor, but any arguments for someone other than Garrett may now be null and void. Steelers fans won't want to see the Browns' star get another; however, it's impossible to deny just how much of a force he has been.
Myles Garrett's last 6 seasons 👀
— NFL on Prime Video (@NFLonPrime) November 16, 2025
🏈 12 sacks
🏈 16 sacks
🏈 16 sacks
🏈 14 sacks
🏈 14 sacks
🏈 13 sacks and counting
He is the first player in NFL history with 12+ sacks in six-straight seasons. pic.twitter.com/MO760GvESP
If you'd ask Watt, he would tell you immediately that the only thing that matters is winning. The veteran has yet to win a playoff game during his illustrious career, so that is certainly top of mind, instead of being on a two-win team with no hope of competing anytime soon.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers linebacker TJ Watt goes through warmups on the field prior to kickoff on Christmas Day as Pittsburgh prepares for a highly anticipated holiday matchup.
Steelers Remain Happy To Have Watt
Pittsburgh was never in play to draft Garrett back in 2017, as Cleveland didn't let him get past the first overall selection. With that fact already known, Watt has been pretty much equally productive throughout his nine-year career. The very next step to put him ahead of Garrett is to go on some type of postseason run. As the current leaders of the AFC North, Watt an co. will look to do that in the coming months.
Do you think that the Steelers will have to watch Garrett break Watt's sack record? Let us know in the comments below!
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