T.J. Watt further etched his name in Steelers lore during Pittsburgh's season-opener against the 49ers. The 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year recorded three sacks in the game's first three quarters. His third, a strip-sack of 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, tied James Harrison for the most career sacks in Steelers history.
Watt now has 80.5 career sacks, matching Harrison's tally during his decorated 14-year career with the Steelers.
WATTch out
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 10, 2023
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While he is on the doorstep of breaking Harrison's record, Watt's primary goal in the NFL is to do something his former teammate did twice during his career: hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy. But before he can do that, Watt wants to help the Steelers snap their seven-year drought without a playoff win.
"I've played in three playoff games and haven't won a single one, so that's a big issue," Watt told CBS Sports during the offseason. "That's probably goal No. 1 is just to get into the playoffs and win a playoff game and just go from there.
"I'm not about the individual goals anymore. I've set myself up nice where I've been having a good career but it doesn't matter if you're not winning games when they matter most. I think that's objective No. 1, for sure."