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Tribune News Service
Tribune News Service
Sport
Ray Fittipaldo

Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt named NFL defensive player of the year

One year after losing out on NFL defensive player of the year honors in a close vote, Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt won the award Thursday night at the NFL honors in a landslide.

Watt received 42 first-place votes, beating out Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (five first-place votes) and Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (three first-place votes). Donald had won the award in three of the previous four years and bested Watt 27-20 in first-place votes last year.

Watt is the seventh Steelers defender to win the award and the first since Troy Polamalu in 2010. Joe Green (twice), Mel Blount, Jack Lambert, Rod Woodson and James Harrison also won for the Steelers.

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