J.J. Watt Responds to Micah Parsons Blasting T.J. Watt

Last week after Steelers OLB T.J. Watt did not win Defenisve Player of the Year, a debate sparked among the NFL community, reaching up to even Cowboys star pass rusher Micah Parsons. Joining the Zach Gelb Show on CBS Sports, Parsons gave some harsh comments on Watt. When asked to list the best pure pass rushers in the NFL, Watt was not included in Parsons’ top five.

“I think I’m probably the best pure speed pass rusher,” Parsons said. “But if you’re talking about defensive ends, run and everything, but if you’re talking about pure pass rusher, I would say if you look at my win rate, I was the best one this year. So, it would be me. And then I would say Myles, then Maxx, then Nick Bosa, and then I would say — I mean, look at the stats. The stats don’t lie. He was fifth or sixth, but I think Alex Highsmith might have had a better pass rush win rate. And he had a more double team rate than T.J. Watt if you really want to be statistical. Like, this isn’t my stuff. I’m not just pulling it out of my hat.”

And joining the Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday, his brother, J.J., responded to Parsons’ comments a week after they were made. J.J. mostly shrugged it off, stating that the Internet had largely taken care of it already.

"I've said all the stuff that needed to be said about my brother..

There's a ton of great pass rushers in this league but it still boggles my mind" ~ @JJWatt#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/K7u4QymElM

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 14, 2024

“Watch the film, and the stats, but not the stats. But and the stats, but definitely not the stats, but look at the stats,” J.J. Watt said mocking Parsons. “I think the Internet handled that properly. I think that it was handled appropriately. That’s what we’re dealing with, man.”

Watt was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Year by the 101 Committee, and won recent anonymous player and fan votes for the award. But Garrett won the Pro Football Writers version of the award and took home more hardware on Thursday night. The Steelers’ star pass rusher skipped out on the honors, choosing to protest the decision made. He said moving forward, it would be used as motivation.