Despite failing to record a sack in the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-17 win over the Los Angeles Rams, OLB T.J. Watt made a massive impact with a third-quarter interception on the first play from scrimmage that helped kickstart Pittsburgh’s offense and turn the game around for the team. On NFL Live today, former Steelers safety Ryan Clark said Watt should be considered as one of the best players in the NFL, and that he’s on the trajectory to be the greatest Steeler of all time.
“T.J. Watt has moved into the discussion of best player in the world. The same we used to include his brother, the same way we’ve included Aaron Donald. And before this season, so much was talked about Micah Parsons being like Lawrence Taylor. We have to include T.J. Watt,” Clark said. “I’m gonna say this as being a Pittsburgh Steeler, he is one of the guys that is right now going to be talked about as the greatest Steeler of all-time. Yes, that’s the [Jack] Lambert’s and the Joe Greene’s and the [Troy] Polamalu’s. All of these players that have gold jackets, T.J. Watt is on that trajectory and on a trajectory to be the best ever.”
Watt is already the Steelers’ all-time sack leader, and with 85.5 career sacks in just his seventh season, it’s a number that’s going to grow even more. The Taylor comparison is apt, as, after Watt’s interception yesterday, he’s just one of two players, along with Taylor, to record 70-plus sacks and seven-plus interceptions over their first seven seasons.
Despite sometimes getting lost in the shuffle among guys like Myles Garett and Micah Parsons, as Clark mentioned, Watt has more production than any pass-rusher in the game right now. His interception yesterday proved he’s more than just a pure pass-rusher, and at this stage in his career, he can still be a true game-changer on the defensive side of the ball, even when he’s not bringing down opposing quarterbacks.
He’s one of the best football players alive right now, and Clark is right that Watt needs to be in the discussion for the best player in the world right now. Not just the best pass-rusher, or the best defender. Watt deserves recognition as the best player, regardless of position.
The Steelers are largely 4-2 due to the efforts of Watt, who’s put his stamp on almost every single game this season. The Steelers’ offense has struggled, but due to the pressure and playmaking from Watt, they’ve been able to win games and stay in the AFC playoff picture. What Watt doesn’t have, and what right now precludes him from being talked about in the same breath as Jack Lambert and Joe Greene and other Hall of Fame Steelers defenders is a Super Bowl. Heck, Watt hasn’t been a part of a team that’s even won a playoff game yet, and that’s something that needs to change.
The Steelers have the talent to get Watt on the board in the postseason this year, and he can help them accomplish that. He’s currently tied for the league lead in sacks and could break the single-season NFL sack record that he tied Michael Strahan for with 22.5 sacks back in 2021.
If Watt keeps up his performance this season, he’s going to have an all-time great season and he’s well on his way to being one of the greatest Steelers of all-time. He just needs the postseason success to add to his resume.
