Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt is still searching for his second Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year award. Despite Watt leading the league with six forced fumbles, Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain earned this year's honor Thursday night.
Surtain tallied four interceptions and 11 pass deflections this season and the Broncos sported the NFL's third-best scoring defense with him shadowing receivers.
With three first-place votes, T.J. Watt finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year polling, behind Surtain (26), Cincinnati 's Trey Hendrickson (11), and Cleveland 's Myles Garrett (5). Garrett won the award in 2023.
Surtain is the sixth defensive back since 2000 to take home the hardware, joining Ed Reed (2004), Bob Sanders (2007), Charles Woodson (2009), Troy Polamalu (2010), and Stephon Gilmore (2019). Surtain's 132 interception return yards this season were the most in the league.
Watt had previously earned the honor in 2021, the same season in which he tied Michael Strahan's single-season sacks record with 22.5. Watt was snubbed for his second Defensive Player of the Year trophy in 2023 despite leading the NFL with 19.0 sacks.
This season , Watt tied for eighth in the league with 11.5 sacks, beside Minnesota 's Andrew Van Ginkel . Watt had at least one sack in four of the Steelers' five games this season. He forced a pair of fumbles against the Las Vegas Raiders and had multi-sack games against the New York Giants , Cincinnati, and Philadelphia .
Hendrickson had an NFL-high 17.5 sacks, while Garrett followed with 14.0 and Denver's Nik Bonitto 13.5.
Garrett requested a trade out of Cleveland on Monday, while Watt's deal in Pittsburgh runs through next season.
More must-reads:
