Despite leading the NFL in sacks for a 0.33 time — the only participant to do so due to the fact the merger in 1970 — Pittsburgh Steelers edge-rusher T.J. Watt did now not win the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award in 2023.
During a current look on the Barstool Sports podcast “Pardon My Take,” Watt defined he had no trouble with Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett winning the award over him, but instead his trouble is with the ambiguity surrounding how the winner is chosen.
“I don’t have a hassle with any players,” Watt said. “Everybody’s phenomenal. Myles, Micah [Parsons] — they’re exquisite players, don’t get me wrong. It’s just that the voting. I choose more clarity on how that all comes.”
Despite not at once referencing Garrett’s win, Watt expressed his emotions towards the situation by X the night time of the NFL Awards.
Watt and Garrett each had sturdy statistical seasons.
They had the same wide variety of pressures (86) and pressured fumbles (four), however Watt held the edge in sacks (19 to 15), QB hits (19 to 14) and tackles for loss (19 to 17), whilst Garrett bested him in hurries (57 to 47) and pass-rush win-rate (35.1% to 20.3%), per Pro Football Focus.
Both were named to the Pro Bowl and had been First-Team All-Pro selections.
Had Watt won the award, he would have grow to be the ninth participant in NFL history, and simply the fourth participant when you consider that 2000 to win the NFL Defensive POY award multiple times. Watt’s older brother J.J. gained the award three instances (2012, 2014, 2015).
“It’s a legacy thing; it absolutely is,” Watt added. “It’s now not why we play, but it comes alongside with it. … You work so hard, and when you’re no longer in a position to come away from the season with the Super Bowl, you like to fall returned on something that the difficult work is well worth it. And to not get that is a sting, however at the cease of the day, it’s more motivation.”
