T.J. Watt Lands At No. 11 On NFL’s Top 100 Players List

The Pittsburgh Steelers did a lot of work over the offseason, but perhaps their most important piece of business involved signing superstar linebacker T.J. Watt to a long-term contract extension. After a brief dispute, Watt put pen to paper on a three-year, $123 million deal that will give him a shot to finish his career with the only team he’s ever played in the NFL.

While that deal is massive, it’s clear that Watt is deserving of it. Through his first eight seasons with the Steelers, Watt has racked up 108 sacks, which have helped him earn seven Pro Bowl selections, four All-Pro First Team honors, and the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Simply put, Watt is one of the most disruptive defenders in the league, and he has shown no signs of slowing down yet. That is a fact that is not lost on the rest of the NFL, as Pittsburgh’s superstar linebacker ended up being voted the 11th-best player in the league on the NFL’s Top 100 players list.

“Current NFL players have once again voted on their Top 100 Players of 2025 in the league, and linebacker T.J. Watt is among the Steelers to make the NFL Top 100 list this year. Watt came in at No. 11 on the list. He was ranked No. 8 in 2024 and No. 27 in 2023,” Teresa Varley wrote on the team’s official website.

Watt didn’t necessarily reach the highs he had hit earlier in his career in 2024, but he was still one of the top defenders in the league. In 17 games, Watt racked up 61 tackles, 11.5 sacks, four pass deflections, and a league-leading six fumbles forced. Even when he’s not leading the league in sacks, Watt is still a dominant presence on Pittsburgh’s defensive line.

With several new faces joining the team this offseason, the Steelers believe they are ready to take a massive leap forward in 2025. If they do, chances are Watt will play a big role in their success, and he will look to return to the top of the sack leaderboard after earning a mammoth new contract this offseason.

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