Keith-Prinkey-Bio

🎓Early Life and College at Wisconsin🎓

Trent Jordan “T.J.” Watt was born and raised in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, the youngest of three brothers (including former NFL star J.J. Watt) . In high school at Pewaukee, he excelled in multiple positions on the football field – earning all-conference honors as a defensive end, tight end, quarterback, and punter – and even won a state championship in the shot put in 2013 . Watt stayed in-state for college, enrolling at the University of Wisconsin in 2013, initially as a tight end before switching to outside linebacker in 2015 after overcoming knee injuries .

Watt had a breakout junior season in 2016 for the Wisconsin Badgers. In 14 games he amassed 63 total tackles (including 16 tackles for loss) and 11.5 sacks, along with an interception returned 17 yards for a touchdown . His dominant season earned him first-team All-Big Ten and All-American honors . With this rapid rise, Watt chose to forgo his senior year and enter the NFL Draft. The Pittsburgh Steelers selected him in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, 30th overall , making Watt the latest member of his family to reach the NFL.

🏅Draft to NFL – Instant Impact in Pittsburgh 🏅

Watt made an immediate impact as a rookie in Pittsburgh. In his very first NFL game (Week 1 of 2017), he recorded 7 tackles, 2 sacks, and an interception against the Cleveland Browns . That performance not only helped the Steelers win, but also made Watt the first Steelers rookie linebacker to start a season opener since 1988 . He went on to play in 15 games in 2017, finishing with 54 tackles, 7.0 sacks, 1 interception, and 1 forced fumble in his debut season . Watt’s strong rookie year earned him a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team and signaled the beginning of a special career.

Over the next two seasons, Watt quickly developed into one of the league’s most feared edge rushers. In 2018, he more than doubled his sack total with 13.0 sacks (along with 68 tackles and 6 forced fumbles) , earning his first Pro Bowl nod. By 2019, Watt was a fully blossomed star: he piled up 14.5 sacks and led the NFL with 8 forced fumbles (tied with Chandler Jones) . He was named Team MVP by his Steelers teammates that year – the first defensive player to earn that honor for Pittsburgh since Troy Polamalu – and was a finalist for NFL Defensive Player of the Year (finishing third in the voting) . At just 25 years old, Watt had established himself as the centerpiece of the Steelers defense.

🔥Record-Breaking NFL Career 🔥

In 2020, his fourth season, Watt hit new heights. He led the NFL in sacks (15.0), tackles for loss (23), and quarterback hits (41) , spearheading a dominant Steelers defense. Although he narrowly missed out on Defensive Player of the Year (finishing as runner-up) , he earned first-team All-Pro honors and another Pro Bowl selection. The following year, 2021, Watt delivered one of the greatest defensive seasons ever. Despite missing two games with injuries, he recorded 22.5 sacks, tying Michael Strahan’s all-time NFL single-season sack record set in 2001 . In the final week of the season, Watt’s sack of Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley etched his name in the record books by matching the 22.5 mark . He led the league in sacks for the second straight year and was unanimously voted the NFL Defensive Player of the Year for 2021 . Watt also set a new Steelers single-season sack record, shattering the old mark of 16.0 held by James Harrison . It was a season for the ages, firmly establishing Watt as the league’s top defensive star.

Watt faced adversity in 2022 when he tore a pectoral muscle in Week 1, causing him to miss about half the season . Even in only 10 games, he still managed 5.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, and earned his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl nod . More importantly, the Steelers felt his absence: the team struggled without him, underscoring his value. (Since Watt’s debut, Pittsburgh has a 79-40-2 record with him in the lineup, but just 1-10 when he hasn’t played .) He returned healthy in 2023 and promptly continued his destruction of opposing offenses. In Week 1 of 2023, Watt tied the Steelers’ franchise career sack record (held by Harrison at 80.5), and the very next week he broke the record, logging his 81.5th career sack and even returning a fumble 16 yards for a game-winning touchdown against Cleveland . By season’s end, Watt had 19.0 sacks (the second time in his career he reached 19+), once again leading the NFL in that category . This made him the first player since sacks became official to lead the league three times in that stat . He also added 1 interception, 4 forced fumbles, and a defensive touchdown in 2023 , earning yet another first-team All-Pro selection.

As of the end of the 2024 season, T.J. Watt’s career resume is staggering. He has been selected to seven Pro Bowls and four First-Team All-Pros, and accumulated 108.0 career sacks along with 33 forced fumbles and 7 interceptions . In 2024, he led the NFL with 6 forced fumbles and notched 11.5 sacks , showing no signs of slowing down. At age 30, Watt became the second-fastest player in NFL history to reach 100 career sacks (accomplishing it in 109 games) – trailing only Hall of Famer Reggie White . He is already Pittsburgh’s all-time sack leader by a wide margin , and continues to add to his legacy each year.

📈 Career Stats by Season 📈

For a closer look at Watt’s on-field production, here are his NFL regular-season statistics by year with the Steelers (through 2024): • 2017: 15 games; 54 tackles; 7.0 sacks; 1 interception; 1 forced fumble • 2018: 16 games; 68 tackles; 13.0 sacks; 0 interceptions; 6 forced fumbles • 2019: 16 games; 55 tackles; 14.5 sacks; 2 interceptions; 8 forced fumbles • 2020: 15 games; 53 tackles; 15.0 sacks; 1 interception; 2 forced fumbles • 2021: 15 games; 64 tackles; 22.5 sacks; 0 interceptions; 5 forced fumbles • 2022: 10 games; 39 tackles; 5.5 sacks; 2 interceptions; 1 forced fumble • 2023: 17 games; 68 tackles; 19.0 sacks; 1 interception; 4 forced fumbles • 2024: 17 games; 61 tackles; 11.5 sacks; 0 interceptions; 6 forced fumbles

(Tackles listed are combined tackles.)

🖤Impact on the Steelers and Legacy💛

Beyond the gaudy numbers, T.J. Watt’s impact on the Steelers is difficult to overstate. He has been the team’s defensive cornerstone, as evidenced by being voted the Steelers’ Team MVP five times (2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024) – the most in franchise history . When Watt is on the field, the Steelers are consistently competitive, and his ability to single-handedly disrupt opposing offenses has made Pittsburgh’s defense one of the league’s most feared units. In fact, since Watt’s arrival, the Steelers have won roughly 67% of their games with him, compared to a lone win versus ten losses without him, highlighting how vital he is to the team’s success .

Watt’s elite play has drawn comparisons to Pittsburgh’s legendary defenders of the past. With his new contract extension in 2025, many expect him to be a lifelong Steeler, joining the likes of Mean Joe Greene, Jack Lambert, Mel Blount, and Troy Polamalu who spent their entire careers in Pittsburgh . Based on what he’s accomplished already – Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2021, a share of the sack record, and numerous All-Pro seasons – Watt is already mentioned among the franchise’s all-time greats . He even ranked No. 3 on a CBS Sports list of the best Steelers players since 2000 (trailing only Hall of Fame caliber players Polamalu and Ben Roethlisberger) .

Although team postseason success has been elusive during Watt’s tenure (the Steelers have not won a playoff game since his rookie year, and Watt holds an 0-5 playoff record) , he remains determined to change that. “It doesn’t matter if you’re not winning games when they matter most. I think that’s objective No. 1,” Watt said of his focus on bringing a championship to Pittsburgh . With his leadership and game-changing ability, the Steelers’ faithful have plenty of reason to believe that T.J. Watt will continue to terrorize offenses and possibly deliver the postseason glory that has thus far evaded them.

In just a few years, T.J. Watt has gone from a Wisconsin standout to the heart of the Pittsburgh Steelers defense, compiling historic stats and elevating those around him. As he enters his prime, Watt’s combination of talent, work ethic, and passion for the game cements his status as one of the NFL’s most impactful players – and a beloved figure in Pittsburgh – for years to come .

📚 Sources:

•   Pittsburgh Steelers & NFL statistics: Pro-Football-Reference, NFL.com, ESPN.com 
•   College stats and honors: University of Wisconsin Athletics & Sports Reference  
•   Career highlights, records, and quotes: Steelers.com news, CBS Sports, Wikipedia   
•   Jeff Hartman, Steel Curtain Network – The Steelers’ record with/without T.J. Watt (July 18, 2025)