T.J. Watt is continuing to etch his place in NFL history. The 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year added to his laundry list of achievements during Sunday's win over the Rams. During that win, the Steelers' outside linebacker accomplished something that had only been previously done by Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor.
With his interception of Matt Stafford, Watt joined Taylor as the only players in league history to record at least seven interceptions and 70 sacks in their first seven seasons since sacks first started being recorded in 1982 (h/t NFL Media).
TRENT JORDAN WATT WITH THE INT 🙌
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 22, 2023
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In 93 career games, Watt (who surpassed James Harrison as the Steelers' career sack leader earlier this season) has 85.5 sacks, seven interceptions, 25 forced fumbles and 10 fumble recoveries. During his first seven seasons (101 games), Taylor tallied eight picks, 83 sacks and five fumble recoveries (forced fumbles weren't an official stat until Taylor's last season in 1993).
Watt sharing a record with Taylor is no lean feat. Regarded by many as possibly the greatest defensive player of all time, Taylor is the only player to win Rookie and Defensive Player of the Year honors in the same year, doing so in 1981. He won two more Defensive Player of the Year honors during his career, and in 1986 joined Alan Page as the only defensive players to win league MVP.
That was the same year Taylor helped the Giants win the franchise's first Super Bowl. Playoff success is one of the few things that has alluded Watt during his NFL career so far, and it's the driving force behind his success so far this season.
"Getting into Year 7, you're just trying to get to the Super Bowl," Watt told CBS Sports ahead of the 2023 season. "I've played in three playoff games and haven't won a single one, so that's a big issue. That's probably goal No. 1 is just to get into the playoffs and win a playoff game and just go from there.
"I'm not about the individual goals anymore. I've set myself up nice where I've been having a good career but it doesn't matter if you're not winning games when they matter most. I think that's objective No. 1, for sure."
