It was a family affair as the NFL named its AP Defensive Player of the Year on Thursday.
J.J. Watt was a presenter with pop star Katy Perry when it was revealed the Pittsburgh Steelers’ T.J. Watt earned the honor.
From one DPOY to another.
From one brother to another.What a moment for @JJWatt & @_TJWatt
📺: #NFLHonors on ABC & NFL Network pic.twitter.com/h9ye6Y8gi6
— NFL (@NFL) February 11, 2022
The 2021 Defensive Player of the Year is @_TJWatt!#HereWeGo | #SBLVI pic.twitter.com/1RlLZusvyD
— Super Bowl LVI on NBC (@SNFonNBC) February 11, 2022
The Steelers linebacker had 22.5 sacks in 15 regular-season games played. His 1.5 sacks per game are the second-most in NFL history behind Reggie White’s 1.75 in 1987 (White also won DPOY).
22.5 sacks.@_TJWatt is the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year! #NFLHonors (by @CastrolUSA) pic.twitter.com/5gJWkCnSmd
— NFL (@NFL) February 11, 2022
J.J., won the Defensive Player of the Year title three times (2012, ’14, ’15), making the Watts the first brothers to win the MVP, OPOY or DPOY award.
Couldn’t love this moment any more! Congratulations @_TJWatt!! 🙌🙌🙌 https://t.co/0hk9QlZGZw
— Amy Palcic (@amypalcic) February 11, 2022
Watt becomes the seventh Steelers player to win the DPOY award, joining HOFer Joe Greene (twice), HOFer Mel Blount, HOFer Jack Lambert, HOFer Rod Woodson, James Harrison, and HOFer Troy Polamalu.
Voting for AP 2022 NFL Defensive Player of the Year
T.J. Watt, Edge, Pittsburgh42
Micah Parsons, LB, Dallas3
Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams3— Rob Maaddi (@RobMaaddi) February 11, 2022
