JJ Watt retired with 114.5 sacks, which should be good enough to get him into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
But will he ultimately become the leader of his family?
TJ Watt comes for the title. The Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker reached a milestone Monday night by sacking the Cleveland Browns’ Deshaun Watson in the second quarter.
That was sack No. 81.5 of Watt’s career, the new Steelers all-time record. Although sacks didn’t become an official statistic until 1982, and many great Steelers defenders played before then, Pittsburgh has also had many great defenders since 1982. And Watt has surpassed them all. Watt passed James Harrison for the record, two games into his seventh season with the team.
JJ Watt watched and, as expected, pumped up his brother’s performance.
TJ WATT is the best defensive player in the world.
Stop trying to question it, stop trying to justify someone else.
He is the best.
Period of time.— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) September 19, 2023
Watt had another highlight later. He scored the first defensive touchdown of his career after Alex Highsmith sacked Deshaun Watson and knocked the ball loose. Watt picked it up and returned it 17 yards for a score.
TJ Watt is 28 years old. It seems reasonable that he can get the 33 sacks he needs to catch his brother. TJ has an NFL Defensive Player of the Year award and is tied for the all-time sack record with Michael Strahan.
If TJ keeps up this pace for a few more years, he should pass his brother. And it seems likely that both will reunite in Canton.
