Every Steelers fan knows that T.J. Watt didn't put up the other-worldly numbers in 2024 we are used to seeing from him. The perennial All-Pro edge rusher and 2021 Defensive Player of the Year is one of the best defensive players of his generation, so we won't read too deeply into the numbers.
But when someone deliberately defemates the future Hall of Famer, we take notice.
The week leading up to the Super Bowl is Radio Row. Hundreds of NFL players, former players, and coaches are on hand to sit down for interviews and answer questions from the media. You can also guarantee some of these players will be spewing nonsense.
On February 5, Zach Gelb of Infinity Sports Network caught up with Dallas Cowboys All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons. Gelb asked Parsons to name his top five pass rushers. T.J. Watt was not among them.
"I would say myself, Myles Garrett, " Parsons explained. "Honestly Danielle Hunter, I think Trey Hendrickson had a really good year, and man I'm gonna leave someone out because I'm not thinking."
Gelb then asked if T.J. Watt still didn't make the cut.
"No... If you're talking about pure pass rushers, there's about a few of us that's probably in a league of our own and everyone else is just pretty much high-end rushers," Parsons continued. "They don't got versatility. They don't, you know, move around. They don't create matchups. You look at pass rush percentages, I've been one of the best pass rushers since I came into the league... They reside or live on coverage sacks."
This was a bold take considering how disruptive Watt has been in the past. Parsons did go on to give the Steelers star some props—noting that he has over 100 career sacks and listing some of the things he does well.
Though Parsons doesn't believe Watt is in the same tier as a pass rusher as himself and Myles Garrett, he admitted that Watt is a tremendous overall football player.
"When you guys ask these questions, you say pure pass rusher," Parsons said. "You don't say like football player. Do I think he's a top-five football player? Defensive football player? H*** yeah! The way he creates turnovers, the things he does on the field is unmatched... I think he's a top-five defensive football player, but pure pass rusher?"
T.J. Watt has earned more respect than he's getting
It was nice of Parsons to at least admit that T.J. Watt is a tremendous overall football player (because he is). And I understand where the Cowboys star is coming from. It's true that Watt's pressure rate and pass rush win rate aren't on par with the top players in the league these days.
But there was a time when it was hard to argue that he wasn't the best.
Following the 2019 season, T.J. Watt finished 2nd in the NFL behind Robert Quinn in pass rush win rate (PRWR), per ESPN analytics. That year, Garrett finished 4th (26 percent). One year later in 2020, Watt finished 1st in the league in pass rush win rate (29 percent) while Garrett was 3rd (26 percent). Players like Nick Bosa, Maxx Crosby, Trey Hendrickson, and Danielle Hunter didn't crack the top 10.
In 2021, Garrett claimed the top pass rush win rate percentage (28 percent) while Watt fell to 5th (24 percent) but still topped Bosa, Crosby, Hendrickson, Hunter, and (guess who?) Parsons. In 2022, Watt ranked 8th in PRWR (22 percent) despite returning from a torn pectoral in the second half of the season. In 2023, Watt ranked 5th in PRWR (25 percent).
This past season in 2024 was the first time since 2019 that T.J. Watt ranked outside of the top eight in PRWR—earning the 12th-highest ranking with a win rate of 19 percent.
Watt is in his 30s now, but he had his ride atop the league as long as anyone. Even if he doesn't win each pass rush rep at an elite rate these days, you still need to put some respect on his name. There will come a time when the same will happen to Parsons, Garrett, and every other pass rusher in the league.
T.J. Watt is still stringing together a resume of a future first-ballot Hall of Famer. Watt is going to go down as one of the best players in Pittsburgh Steelers history, so pretending like he hasn't been a good pass rusher is silly.