Pittsburgh Steelers star edge rusher, T.J. Watt was finally recognized as the NFL's premier defensive player in 2021, winning the Defensive Player of the Year Award and tying the NFL record for the most sacks in a season with 22.5. But Watt made sure that he was absolute in continuing the Steelers tradition of great linebackers that Jack Lambert began when he stated after defeating the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl X: "No one's going to intimidate us, we're supposed to be the intimidators."
When the Steelers played host to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 12, Watt made sure that spirit of intimidation continued, as in a game the Steelers were struggling in, he made sure Bengals QB Joe Burrow remembered that sentiment. Nearing the end of the first half, Steelers star safety, Minkah Fitzpatrick intercepted a Burrow pass and began to glide his way back with a silky smooth return. In the meantime, Watt recognized the situation and he readied himself in case of Burrow getting the idea of trying to make a play on the runback.
Minkah Fitzpatrick snags the interception on Joe Burrow that began the Steelers T.J. Watt "bully" incident - CBS Sports
The commentators would get up in arms after the play and wondered if Watt took liberties with the Bengals QB. It wasn't until former Steelers CB Bryant McFadden asked him about the play on his podcast that Watt was able to explain his take on the play, which led to some amusement for the Super Bowl XL and XLIII champion.
Steelers T.J. Watt on the All Things Covered podcast with Bryant McFadden:
"He [Burrow] threw a pick and I got up and I basically just stood in front of him like we're right here. I'm just waiting for him to make a football play because that's what the refs always say. If he makes a football play as a quarterback, then you can block him, but if he doesn't, you can't block him."
Steelers T.J. Watt recognizes Minkah Fitzpatrick's interception - CBS Sports
After the Fitzpatrick interception and Watt's initial reaction, Watt looked to Burrow and begins shielding the Bengals quarterback, but not engaging him. As Fitzpatrick started to gain momentum and turn up field for the potential big play, Burrow made the football move that Watt was looking for and it escalated very quickly.
"Amazing, I'm just standing there waiting form him like, "come on please make a move," and he makes a move. So I'm [like], 'alright, game on, let's go.' So I grab on to him and I start to block him and it's nothing crazy."
Steelers T.J. Watt waits for Bengals QB Joe Burrow to make a football move as Minkah Fitzpatrick returns the interception - CBS Sports
"Then he starts to drive me back a little so then I'm like alright, I'm not gonna look bad here. You're not gonna drive me back. That's when I kind of flipped the switch and that's when I just dumped him."
Steelers LB T.J. Watt grabs hold of Bengals Joe Burrow as the two are engaged after the Bengals QB threw an interception - CBS Sports
Steelers LB T.J. Watt dumps Bengals QB Joe Burrow to the ground - CBS Sports
After the play, the entire Bengals offensive line got mad at Watt, but he made a football play, just like it says in the rules. Watt thought nothing else of it, and neither did the referees who correctly did not throw a flag on the play. Watt could be seen on the sideline telling his teammates and coaches what happened and that no one was going to get the better of him like that.
Watt is one of a kind at the linebacker position, he's going to take the Steelers all-time sack record from the legendary James Harrison in 2022. He shared with McFadden the details behind what makes him the best pass rusher in the NFL, and it comes down to his hands.
"Doing so much hand combat all offseason, I try to make it so I don't think about it. You have so much going through your mind, especially when you're coming off the left side when so many quarterbacks are right-handed.""When I rush, I look through the tackles into the backfield. You don't have time to look at the hands of the offensive lineman, so you have to make it second nature. It has to come through muscle memory."
Following the leadership of the great Cam Heyward, between Watt and Fitzpatrick being locked up with long-term extensions, there is a core on the Steelers defense that has the potential, especially if Devin Bush can raise his game back to his previous level, to dominate for another decade. Watt will definitely go down as a Steelers all-time great for his actions on and off the field and representing what it means to be a Steeler. Watt is going to be the centerpiece that gives the former Heinz Field and now Acrisure Stadium it's first taste of new memories.
Here's to the team building around him right so he can be part of bringing the 7th Lombardi to Pittsburgh.
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