T.J. Watt will have plenty to brag about at Thanksgiving after notching a significant family milestone.
The Pittsburgh Steelers fell to the Chicago Bears on Sunday, but Watt made a huge play early in the 31-28 loss. He forced a Caleb Williams fumble in the end zone, which Nick Herbig recovered for a go-ahead touchdown.
That marked Watt’s 115th career sack, moving him to 26th on the NFL’s all-time leaderboard. The star edge rusher passed his brother, J.J. Watt, who retired with 114.5 sacks.
Making the moment even sweeter, the older Watt was in the CBS booth to call his sibling’s achievement. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year congratulated T.J. Watt.
“If he’s gonna pass my record, that’s one hell of a way to do it,” J.J. Watt said, via the NFL’s social media account.. “With a strip-sack causing a touchdown. Good for you, T.J.”
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The former Houston Texans star then joked about coming out of retirement before his brother could run away with the lead, courtesy of the NFL on CBS.
“Well, that’s it,” J.J. said. “I’m gonna put the pads back on because this is preposterous.”
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J.J. Watt surpassed T.J. Watt’s sack count in 19 fewer career games. The 31-year-old is now a half-sack behind Calais Campbell and 2.5 behind Myles Garrett on the all-time leaderboard, with Von Miller leading all active players at 134.5.
The Watt family can at least share some cool history. ESPN Insights noted that they’re the only brothers to each record 100 career sacks since the NFL made the stat official in 1982.
Unfortunately, that also marked Pittsburgh’s only sack of the game. The Steelers are now tied with the Baltimore Ravens atop the AFC North entering a Week 13 game against the Buffalo Bills.
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Featured image via Barry Reeger-Imagn Images