Steelers' TJ Watt Volunteered To Play Out Of Position As A Rookie

Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker, TJ Watt fell into Pittsburgh's lap at 30th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft after posting a monster junior season with the Wisconsin Badgers recording 15.5 tackles for a loss, 11.5 sacks, and four passes defended. The Steelers have also gotten some incredibly impactful play from Watt highlighted by his 2021 AP Defensive Player of the Year award. To have him unleash terror on opposing lines though, Watt needed a change in sides. 

Watt came into the league through the draft process telling teams he'd play at any position: inside linebacker, defensive end or outside linebacker, but revealed on the Footbahiln' podcast with two-time Super Bowl-winning Steelers quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger that he was hoping that a team wanting to use him as an outside linebacker called his name in the draft. The Steelers and their 3-4 defense matched that bill. 

He offered to line up in a spot he wasn't particularly fond of. The Steelers were going to be unleashing a dynamic duo of pass rushers for the next couple of seasons with Watt and fellow first-round pick, Bud Dupree, but the coaching staff needed to figure out which side was best for both their budding young stars.  

"When I came here it was like 'I'll play right side coach,' I hate playing right side," Watt said. "But if it's for the team, let's do it and that's why after my first year I was like 'can I please go to left?'"    

Watt collected 13 sacks, 21 quarterback hits, and six forced fumbles to earn his first Pro Bowl nod in his first season playing on the left in 2018. He's led the league in sacks and tackles for a loss twice since the change and despite only playing in ten games in 2023 due to an unavoidable pectoral injury, continued his Pro Bowl nomination streak to five years. 

Now, Watt seemingly says it was a personal ask, but legendary Steelers sack artist, James Harrison told Roethlisberger, on a previous episode of his podcast, that he was angling for the coaching staff to move him over to the left side. 

Harrison, who had put up some historical seasons of his playing on the right side, said he'd seen a move in practice from Watt on the left that he couldn't do lined up on the other side. Harrison mentioned he had the same thing, but the opposite way and when you're able to use that move against a stronger tackle, it can give you an advantage.   

Steelers Dynamic TJ Watt Explains It's Better To Great On One Side

Watt was asked by Roethlisberger if he's completely lost his moves on the right side and he said it just feels awkward.  

"It feels like I'm writing with my left hand," he said. "The bend isn't the same. I just have so much muscle memory on the left side and it feels so natural. It just comes to me. When I'm on the right, it's like I'm working against my body."     

The legendary quarterback wondered if it would be better for an outside linebacker to be above average on both sides or great on one and Watt quickly said that he'll take greatness every day of the week. 

"That's how I am," he said. "This time of year [offseason], I'll experiment and sometimes I'll go over there. But I'm always like if I go over there for one rush, I'm wasting one on the left that could be the one to change games."    

Watt said that the first time he ever really thought hard about which side he was playing on was at a meeting for edge rushers before the draft and someone asked where the best spot to sack the quarterback was. Nearly everyone said the blindside which, for most quarterbacks, is lining up to their left. The presenter had an example from someone who'd said front side because the quarterback can see it coming and the ball is exposed. Watt added that he can see more of the game from the left side. 

Whether it was Harrison's nudging or Watt's that got him moved to the left, it doesn't really matter. What does is that Watt has found a perfect home on the left side. He's already cementing himself as one the best edge rushers in team history and has more great years ahead.