Voters for the Associated Press awards didn’t get it right, but the 101 Awards voters did. On Friday night, Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt was honored at the 101 Awards as the 2023 AFC Defensive Player of the Year.
Watt was presented with the award, flanked by longtime defensive line coach Karl Dunbar and outside linebackers coach Denzel Martin. It was Watt’s third time winning the honor, having previously won it in 2020 and 2021.
Watt had another outstanding season in the Black and Gold, racking up 48 solo tackles (19 for loss), 20 assists, 19.0 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries, 36 QB hits and one interception in 17 games.
It’s a head-scratcher, as the selection committees of the 101 Awards and AP NFL awards have common voters, yet the NFL Defensive Player of the Year — the most coveted award in the league — voted Myles Garrett as its winner.
Last night, @_TJWatt was honored at the #101Awards for being named the 2023 AFC Defensive Player of the Year. pic.twitter.com/B9pvV6Vkh5
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) March 23, 2024
