Steelers: T.J. Watt has awesome tweet after winning Defensive Player of the Year

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt had an amazing tweet after he won the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award.

Last season, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt was not named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year, as he lost out to Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald by just seven votes (27-20). After finding out that he lost, Watt posted a Michael Jordan “Last Dance” meme on his Twitter account, letting the world know that he took that personally. After tying the NFL sack record in 2021, Watt finally earned his Defensive Player of the Year award at the NFL Honors ceremony on Thursday, Feb. 10.

Watt replied to the aforementioned tweet from last year with a photo of himself proudly holding his new trophy.

T.J. Watt has awesome tweet after winning Defensive Player of the Year award

Watt won by a large margin, by receiving 42-of-50 votes. Dallas Cowboys rookie linebacker Micah Parsons received five votes, while Donald got three votes.

The Steelers linebacker played like he took losing the award in 2020 personally throughout the 2021 season. Just prior to the start of the campaign, Watt signed a four-year, $112 million contract extension.

Watt missed two games in 2021, but still managed to tie the league sacks record of 22.5 set back in 2001 by New York Giants defensive end and Hall of Famer Michael Strahan. It is important to note that Strahan put up that sack total in 16 games.

Take a look at Watt’s stats in 2020 and 2021:

• 2020: 53 combined tackles, 23 tackles for loss (league-high), 15.0 sacks (league-high), seven defended passes, two forced fumbles, one interception
• 2021: 64 combined tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 22.5 sacks, seven defended passes, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries.

It may have taken an extra year, but Watt now has his first Defensive Player of the Year award to add to his mantle. Based off of his play in 2021, it may not be the last trophy he wins in his career.