Myles Garrett Has Words for T.J. Watt after NFL Honors Flap

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett had some words for Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt on Tuesday before the Thursday Night Football rivalry game between the teams this week.

Garrett apparently took issue with Watt’s response to Garrett winning the 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award this past offseason. Watt was in Las Vegas last year for the NFL Honors award show, but when he found out that Garrett was going to win and not him, he skipped the ceremony entirely.

“I’ve never complained about the trophy not being in my house, and vice versa, he shouldn’t be feeling two ways about it going to me,” Garrett said to Cleveland.com on Tuesday. “We’re just gonna play the game. I don’t play against T.J. He doesn’t play against me. We’re playing to do what we’re supposed to, go out and do what we’re supposed to, win the game and dominate on defense.”

#Browns Myles Garrett on #Steelers T.J. Watt’s negative reax on X last year when Garrett won #NFL Defensive Player of the Year: pic.twitter.com/kp1UufKUAF

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) November 19, 2024

Watt dominated Garrett in nearly every traditional statistic. He had more tackles, more tackles for loss, more sacks, more quarterback hits, more passes defended, more fumble recoveries, more interceptions and more defensive touchdowns. They tied with four forced fumbles apiece.

But Garrett won the award, largely on the back of some analytical metrics, such as pass-rush win rate.

CLEVELAND, OH – NOVEMBER 10: Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) on the field during the fourth quarter of the National Football League game between the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns on November 10, 2019, at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)

This season, Watt once again leads the statistical comparison handily. He has more tackles (27-21), tackles for loss (12-10), sacks (7.5-7), quarterback hits (18-15), forced fumbles (4-2), fumble recoveries (2-0) and passes defended (3-0).

Watt is currently the favorite to win the 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award, with -160 odds at FanDuel. Chris Jones of Kansas City Chiefs (+1,100), Nick Bosa of the San Francisco 49ers (+1,300), Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals (+1,600) and Fred Warner of the 49ers (+1,900) round out the top five. Garrett is currently tied for the 12th-best odds at +4,000.

“It’s up for grabs this year,” Garrett said. “We’ll see the best man win.”

Watt won the award in 2021 after being a finalist multiple times. He lost to Stephon Gilmore in 2019 and Aaron Donald in 2020. Bosa won in 2022, while Watt missed most of the season with injury.

Pittsburgh Steelers OLB TJ Watt during a game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 29, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now