The NFL’s sack leader, Pittsburgh Steelers edge-rusher T.J. Watt, did not win the Defensive Player of the Year Award during last night’s NFL Honors. Instead, the league awarded Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett the hardware despite him trailing Watt in sacks, tackles, TFLs, fumble recoveries, passes defended, interceptions, QB hits, pressures, and touchdowns. NFL fans, specifically those who back the Steelers, were shocked to hear Garrett gained 23 first-place votes compared to Watt’s 19. Many of these fans took to Twitter (also known as X) to share their disbelief at the voting breakdown for DPOY.
Pittsburgh Steelers Fans: React to T.J. Watt Not Winning Defensive Player of the Year
Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett earned 23 first-place, 13 second-place, and 11 third-place votes en route to winning his first AP Defensive Player of the Year Award. The Texas A&M product tallied 42 tackles, 17 TFLs, and 14 sacks for the 11-win Browns, while division rival T.J. Watt merited only 19 first-place votes and fewer overall votes than Garrett. Dallas Cowboys defender Michah Parsons gained seven first-place votes while placing third for DPOY. Meanwhile, Las Vegas Raiders superstar Maxx Crosby and Parsons’ teammate, DaRon Bland, came in fourth and fifth, respectively.
NFL and Pittsburgh Steelers fans posted on social media their disgust for Watt missing out on winning the highest award for a defender, with some claiming racism among the voters.
TJ Watt got the reverse racism treatment
— Lance Sweatpants (@LanceSweatpants) February 9, 2024
nah myles garrett winning over TJ Watt gotta be fixed or racism bruh aint no way
— AJ (@CruxxAJ) February 9, 2024
Highway Robbery. What’s the point of Stats? Myles Garrett will forever be behind TJ Watt. I’m starting to sense some racism in the #NFLHonors
— Brad Hernandez (@CallmeDez93) February 9, 2024
It's ridiculous that the @ap would allow this to happen after the rampant chants of #endracism by the @nfl 🤦🏼♂️ Allowing subpar black players to win #DPOY year after year when statistically the white player is clearly better is #racism at its core. #nfl https://t.co/3IPeAoDGlG
— FaZeNiTrO (@FaZeNiTrO69) February 9, 2024
This has to be racism at this point or something.
Watt was way better this year. Again.
Such a joke man. https://t.co/zkk2XXWcGm
— Dick Whitman (@DickWhitman1960) February 9, 2024
This gotta be racist against TJ Watt somehow https://t.co/GKaU8KFaIv
— Chris ⚔️ (@xsladetrillson) February 9, 2024
TJ Watt not winning DPOY is racist. He should've won the year Aaron Donald won and this year. He should be a 3 time DPOY! Keeping the best defensive player in the game from winning DPOY because he's white is bullshit!
— Ryan Reed (@Daddy_Reed) February 9, 2024
TJ Watt has now been snubbed out of 2 DPOY awards…
Even worse is this year Watt beat Garrett in EVERY statistical category possible…
NFL Rigged???#WattDPOY pic.twitter.com/bCttPQ7dsK
— Big Bens Attorney 🔛🔝🔜 (@BigBensAttorney) February 9, 2024
Why Tj Watt should’ve won DPOY
He had:
26 MORE tackles,
5 MORE sacks,
2 MORE TFL’s,
2 MORE fumble recoveries,
5 MORE pass deflections,
MORE Interceptions,
6 MORE QB hits,
MORE QB pressures,
MORE touchdowns,
than Myles Garrett.#rigged pic.twitter.com/VganTluFDw— Nick Lazaroff (@NickelLaz) February 9, 2024
The fact that Myles Garrett won this award over Max Crosby, TJ watt, and Micah parsons shows that it is a popularity contest.
— Cameron Cashdollar (@camcashdollar) February 9, 2024
Pittsburgh Steelers LB T.J. Watt: Super Efficient 2023 Season
Watt shined for the Pittsburgh Steelers yet again this past season. The 2021 Defensive Player of the Year posted a league-best 19 sacks, his third time leading the NFL in that category. He also had 19 TFLs, good for fifth among his peers. Watt led the league in QB hits, barely edging out San Francisco 49ers dominate edge-rusher Nick Bosa for the recognition. The Wisconsin product also had an interception, four fumbles forced, three fumble recoveries, and a touchdown.
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