T.J. Watt Named 2024 Steelers Team MVP
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro outside linebacker T.J. Watt was voted by his teammates as the 2024 Steelers Most Valuable Player, the team announced on Wednesday. It marks the fifth time in six years that Watt has won Team MVP. He is the first player in team history to win the award five times (2019-21, 23-24).
“It’s awesome. It’s a great honor that I don’t take lightly,” Watt said about being named Team MVP. “It matters most to the guys that see what I do each and every day. To have it come from them, it means a lot to me.”
Watt is still the favorite to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year with -115 odds, but Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain III is gaining ground (+150), according to the latest odds posted by sportsbettingdime.com.
In addition to his league-best six forced fumbles, Watt enters Week 18 with 61 tackles (40 solos), 11.5 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, 27 quarterback hits and two fumble recoveries. Out of Watt’s five forced fumbles, three were strip sacks.
If Watt wins another DPOY award, he’ll join Steelers legend Joe Greene as the only players in franchise history to win the prestigious award twice.
In Week 5 against the Dallas Cowboys, Watt made NFL history with a half-sack in the first quarter. With the sack, Watt not only joined the 100-sack club, but he also became the second-fastest player to reach 100 sacks, behind only Hall of Famer Reggie White, who did it in 96 games. Watt accomplished the feat in 109 career games.
The one thing missing from Watt’s accolades is a Super Bowl title or even playoff success. He’s never won a playoff game in his career. That’s something he wants to change. He doesn’t want be known for just his long list of individual accomplishments.
The Steelers have clinched a playoff spot, so a playoff win could come to fruition. A Super Bowl run seem less likely, judging by the last three games.
“I don’t want my legacy to say that ‘T.J. Watt (accomplished) all these individual things but what happened in the big moments?’” Watt said this past offseason. “That’s what we’re trying to get better (at), and I’m willing to do everything I possibly can and hopefully everybody in the locker room is on the same page.”
Steelers MVPs since 1969
1969 – Roy Jefferson, WR
1970 – Joe Greene, DT
1971 – Andy Russell, LB
1972 – Franco Harris, RB
1973 – Ron Shanklin, WR
1974 – Glen Edwards, S
1975 – Mel Blount, CB
1976 – Jack Lambert, LB
1977 – Terry Bradshaw, QB
1978 – Terry Bradshaw, QB
1979 – John Stallworth, WR
1980 – Donnie Shell, SS
1981 – Jack Lambert, LB
1982 – Dwayne Woodruff, CB
1983 – Gary Anderson, K
1984 – John Stallworth, WR
1985 – Louis Lipps, WR
1986 – Bryan Hinkle, LB
1987 – Mike Merriweather, LB
1988 – David Little, LB & Rod Woodson, CB
1989 – Louis Lipps, WR
1990 – Rod Woodson, CB
1991 – Greg Lloyd, LB
1992 – Barry Foster, RB
1993 – Rod Woodson, CB
1994 – Greg Lloyd, LB
1995 – Neil O’Donnell, QB
1996 – Jerome Bettis, RB
1997 – Jerome Bettis, RB
1998 – Levon Kirkland, LB
1999 – Levon Kirkland, LB
2000 – Jerome Bettis, RB
2001 – Kordell Stewart, QB
2002 – Joey Porter, LB & Hines Ward, WR
2003 – Hines Ward, WR
2004 – James Farrior, LB
2005 – Casey Hampton, NT & Hines Ward, WR
2006 – Willie Parker, RB
2007 – James Harrison, LB
2008 – James Harrison, LB
2009 – Ben Roethlisberger, QB
2010 – Troy Polamalu, S
2011 – Antonio Brown, WR
2012 – Heath Miller, TE
2013 – Antonio Brown, WR
2014 – Le’Veon Bell, RB
2015 – Antonio Brown, WR
2016 – Le’Veon Bell, RB
2017 – Antonio Brown, WR
2018 – JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR
2019 – T.J. Watt, LB
2020 – T.J. Watt, LB
2021 – T.J. Watt, LB
2022 – Minkah Fitzpatrick, S
2023 – T.J. Watt, LB
2024 – T.J. Watt, LB
Alan Saunders and Aaron Becker provided reporting from Pittsburgh.
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