T.J. Watt

T.J. Watt is a professional American football player in the National Football League. Since 2017, he has played for the Pittsburgh Steelers as an outside linebacker. In 2021, he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Watt has been named to the Pro Bowl three times, most recently in 2021.

Player Profile, High School, and College Career

Trent Jordan Watt was born on October 11, 1994, in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. He stands 193 cm tall and his weight was last listed at 114 kg. He is the younger brother of Derek Watt who also plays in the NFL.

Watt attended Pewaukee High School in his hometown and by the time he was a senior, he was rated a three-star recruit. He committed to play for the University of Wisconsin and he stayed there from 2013 to 2016. In his last year at the university, he was named to the First-team All-Big Ten and also to the Second-team All-American.

Professional Career

He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2017 NFL Draft. He was the 30th overall pick and they later signed him to a four-year contract. He made his debut with the team in September of that year. In his rookie year, he was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.

In 2018, he was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time. In 2019, he co-led the league in forced fumbles. In the same year, he was named to the First-team All-Pro. In both 2020 and 2021, he was the recipient of the Deacon Jones Award and in 2021, he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

Watt holds the record for the most sacks in a season with 22.5. In 2021, the Steelers extended his contract for four years.

Career Highlights:

• 2021 - NFL Defensive Player of the

Year

• 2019–2021 - First-team All-Pro
• 2019 - Second-team All-Pro
• 2018–2021 - Pro Bowl
• 2020, 2021 - Deacon Jones Award
• 2019 - NFL forced fumbles co-leader
• 2020 - Butkus Award
• 2017 - PFWA All-Rookie Team
• 2016 - Second-team All-American
• 2016 - First-team All-Big Ten