Steelers TJ Watt expresses deep frustration post losing out DPOY award to Browns’ Myles Garrett despite better sack numbers

Watt snubbed from the DPOY for the second time in his career.

Steelers TJ Watt expresses deep frustration post losing out DPOY award to Browns’ Myles Garrett despite better sack numbers

(L) TJ Watt and (R) Myles Garett (Image via IMAGO)

TJ Watt led the league with 19 sacks in 2023. However, he has no accolade to show for it at the end of the day. The Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker received All-Pro and Pro Bowl nods, but he finished second in the Defensive Player of the Year voting.

On Thursday night, during the Annual NFL Award Ceremony in Las Vegas, Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett bagged the DPOY award. Garrett probably wasn’t expecting his first-ever NFL honor to turn into a subject of controversy.

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It’s safe to assume that Watt wasn’t too thrilled with the final results. He took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his disappointment with a few words. Watt wrote,

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Nothing I’m not used to.

Was TJ Watt really snubbed once again?

The 29-year-old’s only previous DPOY honor came after the 2021 season. That year, he tied for the all-time NFL record for sacks with 22.5. But that wasn’t the only occasion on which he was nominated for the coveted trophy. A year earlier, in 2020, Watt had 15.0 sacks and 23 tackles for loss, leading the league in both categories.

Steelers TJ Watt expresses deep frustration post losing out DPOY award to Browns' Myles Garrett despite better sack numbers
August 19, 2023, Pittsburgh, PA, USA Aug. 19, 2023 T.J. Watt 90 during the Pittsburgh Steelers vs Buffalo Bills preseason game in Pittsburgh PA at Acrisure Stadium. (Image via IMAGO)

However, as luck would have it, he lost out to Aaron Donald. The Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle was far behind Watt, but he still managed to pip the Steeler. After his latest snub, his older brother and Texans legend JJ Watt chimed in with his thoughts.

Myles [Garrett] is a phenomenal player; I’m a big fan, and he’s had an incredible career so far. I can acknowledge that while also wondering what more TJ could have possibly done.
JJ Watt wrote on X

While the former Texan came to his brother’s support, the third candidate for the DPOY, Micah Parsons, claimed Garrett was the deserving winner. The Dallas Cowboys linebacker wrote,

Horrible take!! Myles was the better player!! The reality of the situation! Myles faced way more double teams and affect on QBs! Fans, please stop looking at stats and look at the film, please!!

The battle for the best defensive player in the NFL came down to just a few votes. According to Rob Maaddi, Garrett got 23 first-place votes, which earned him a grand total of 165 points. Watt, on the other hand, received 19 first-place votes, finishing with 140 points. Parsons only had 7 first-place votes in his favor.

There will always be fan disputes when their favorite player doesn’t win the trophy. Even when Lamar Jackson bagged the NFL MVP title for the second time in his career, many argued Christian McCaffrey deserved it more. Well, the All-Pro running back did win the Offensive Player of the Year Award.

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