Three Steelers Receive AP All-Pro Honors
Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell and defensive tackle Cam Heyward received first-team All-Pro honors from the Associated Press, it was revealed on Friday afternoon. Outside linebacker T.J. Watt was named second-team All-Pro.
Boswell, who was 41 of 44 on field goal attempts in 2024, nearly broke an NFL single-season record. The record is 44 field goals, set by San Francisco 49ers kicker David Akers in 2011.
Boswell was clutch for the Steelers this season, converting on 13 of 15 field goal attempts from 50+ yards. Hes also was 35 of 35 on extra points this year. With those kind of numbers, it’s not surprising that Boswell was named first-team All-Pro by the AP.
Last Thursday, it was announced that Boswell received Pro Bowl honors. It’s the second time in Boswell’s career that he’s accomplished that feat. The other time was in 2017. This is the first time that he’s been named first-team All-Pro.
Boswell was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week twice this season (Week 1 and Week 11). He was also named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month in September and October.
“I love Boz, and I’m tired of him getting player of the week,” joked Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin after Boswell went 6 of 6 in the Steelers’ 18-16 win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 11. “He’ll probably get player of the week again this week. He is deserving of it, but it reminds us of our warts. It reminds us of the work that we need to do. But no doubt I’m thankful that he’s on our team.”
The performance against Baltimore marked the third time in Boswell’s career that he made six fields goals, which is the most in NFL history. Boswell also has a six field goal game in the playoffs, an 18-16 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2016 Divisional Round Game
Boswell joined John Carney (1993) as the only kickers ever with six made FGs in multiple games within a season. Boswell also went 6 of 6 in the Steelers’ 18-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1.
“What can you say about Chris Boswell in 2024 that hadn’t been written or said,” Tomlin said. “He’s been everything that we need him to be. He is performing at an extremely high level and we’re extremely comfortable in calling upon him in just about any circumstances. It’s just been special. And to do what he’s done, obviously with a change at holder in the middle of the thing, is doubly impressive.”
Heyward has been on a tear this season. Along with leading all DTs with 71 tackles, Heyward has eight sacks, 12 tackles for loss and 11 pass defended. The last player who recorded 8+ sacks, 10+ TFL and 8+ pass defenses through their first 13 games of a season was J.J. Watt in 2014.
J.J. Watt was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2014, which is why it’s pretty head-scratching that Heyward is not being considered for DPOY.
Heyward is 35, but he’s playing like he’s 25. The 14-year veteran looks like he has plenty of left in the tank.
“He is such a treat,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said on the Pat McAfee Show in early December. “He is playing lights out. His play has been top tier. He is playing as good as he has ever played. He’s an ageless wonder. But I also just really appreciate that he is Pittsburgh born and raised.
“We drafted this guy in 2011, and just to watch him grow as a player and a human, it’s been cool to be a part of that. And it really just makes my day easy, to be quite honest with you. That dude understands what we’re doing here, our approach to business, our culture, our values. He embodies all of those things.”
This is the fourth time that Heyward’s been named first-team All-Pro by the AP, first since 2021. He also was named to the Pro Bowl last week for the seventh time in his career.
Hyeward has recorded 88.5 career sacks, which is second on the franchise’s all-time list. Having that many sacks as a defensive tackle speaks volumes. Only T.J. Watt has more sacks than him in Steelers history.
Heyward also was named the Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2023. With earning another first-team All-Pro accolade, Heyward could have solidified his case for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
In addition to his league-best six forced fumbles, T.J. Watt finished the season with 61 tackles (40 solos), 11.5 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, 27 quarterback hits and two fumble recoveries. Out of Watt’s six forced fumbles, three were strip sacks.
Watt suffered a left low ankle sprain late in the team’s Week 15 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He did not return to the game, and had X-rays that revealed no fracture. He was active for the last three games, but he did not recorded a single sack and was rather quiet overall.
It appears that the combination of Watt’s ankle and thumb injury has significantly hindered his ability to rush the passer. The decrease in production also probably dropped him to second-team All-Pro. Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett and Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson received first-team All-Pro honors over Watt.
Outside of an injury-riddled year in 2022, where he was left off the All-Pro list entirely, Watt received first-team All-Pro honors in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023.
With the quiet end to the regular season, Watt is no longer the favorite to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He’s been supplanted by Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II (-550), according to the latest odds posted at FanDuel Sportsbook.
Read This Next
