Steelers' T.J. Watt Should Be DPOY Favorite

Oct 1, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) reacts after a play against the Cleveland Browns in the second half at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Steelers' T.J. Watt Should Be DPOY Favorite

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jobe Morrison | Last updated Oct 5, 2026 12:00 PM ET

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By the end of the 2025 Pittsburgh Steelers season, serious questions surrounded T.J. Watt. Was he truly on the decline? Were his best days behind him? Was it time to trade him while he still had some value? The speculation was lazy and silly, at best. There was little context considered for his dip in production. That doesn’t mean the concern wasn’t valid. Pittsburgh was still paying Watt top dollar and expecting top-tier production.

2026 was, frankly, a make-or-break year. So far, it is leaning heavily toward “make.” Watt appears to be enjoying a serious resurgence in his 10th NFL season. It became clear that the previous regime’s defensive approach had grown stale and failed to maximize its personnel through scheme. Watt is now dominating and has established himself as a prime candidate for his second NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.

Watt Is in Dominant Form

PFF has often seemed reluctant to give Watt his due, and it has seldom done so. This year, however, it can’t deny his impressive start to the season. Through four games, he ranks among the top 15-graded defensive players in all of football. Not a top-15 EDGE rusher, but a top-15 defender.

Granted, these are PFF grades we are talking about. Still, it shows that Watt remains one of the most impactful players in the NFL.

According to PFF tracking, Watt has recorded five sacks, 11 pressures, a forced fumble, and an interception. He is also producing at a lower snap count than in previous years. That combination has made Watt one of the most impactful defenders in football. He has changed games every week to this point.

No One Is Changing Games Like Watt in 2026

Oct 1, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) throws the ball past Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

In Week 1, Watt made the play of the game with his incredible pick-six. In Week 4, he continued to wreck the Browns’ game plan late in the game. He recorded a sack and forced a fumble that set the Steelers up with ideal field position. Unfortunately, their offense couldn’t cash in.

Watt, though, is showing that his motor and instincts haven’t gone away. Few players in the NFL are playing at his level.

As it stands, Watt is pacing for 19 sacks, four forced fumbles, and four interceptions. While it is still early, Watt is absolutely back to his dominant form, even if it lasts for only one more season. Chances are, he won’t reclaim his sack record before he retires. Instead, he can do what the player who broke it couldn’t do: push his team to wins. Watt and the Steelers will take that every day.

That’s why Watt should be the early favorite for NFL DPOY.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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