T.J. Watt’s silence in the Defensive Player of the Year race has sparked a troubling question in Pittsburgh: is the Steelers’ defensive icon beginning to fade? After signing a massive $123 million extension, Watt was expected to dominate, yet Myles Garrett’s historic season has shifted the spotlight — and the narrative. Now fans and analysts alike are wondering whether this is just a temporary dip… or the first sign that time is finally catching up.

Myles Garrett’s NFL honor forces Steelers superstar to face harsh reality

Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt | Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

When the Defensive Player of the Year votes were revealed during the NFL Honors, the headline wrote itself. Myles Garrett unanimously claimed the honor after another dominant season, further cementing his status as the NFL’s premier edge rusher. For Pittsburgh Steelers fans, though, the louder statement came from who wasn’t mentioned. T.J. Watt’s absence from the conversation felt like confirmation of a growing belief — the beginning of the end may already be underway.

This was supposed to be Watt’s response year.

A three-year, $123 million contract extension during the 2025 offseason made the six-time All-Pro the highest-paid non-quarterback in football at the time. The deal came with expectation and urgency. Watt had every incentive to chase one of the league’s most prestigious individual awards. Instead, he was outshone by his AFC North rival in a season where the margin felt wider than ever.

Regular-season accolades don’t outweigh the pursuit of a Lombardi Trophy, but context matters.

Yes, Watt and the Steelers outlasted the Cleveland Browns in a brutal race for the AFC North crown. And yes, that accomplishment still carries weight in Pittsburgh. But in the end, it means little when both teams are watching Super Bowl LX from the comfort of their homes.

The difference now is Cleveland gets to watch with the reigning Defensive MVP on its roster.

That reality stings because Watt’s reputation has long been ironclad. He was the league’s most revered quarterback hunter, a defender who dictated protections and changed game plans by himself.

The Pittsburgh Steelers need Myle Garrett’s Defensive MVP award to motivate TJ Watt

In 2025, that image cracked. Watt tied for 35th in sacks with just seven — his lowest total since posting five in 2022. He also missed three games, failing to complete a full season for the first time in three years. Garrett, meanwhile, set the all-time record for sacks in a season with 23.

This doesn’t feel like a motivation issue. Watt has never lacked effort or intensity. If anything, the dip feels physical. Wear and tear add up, especially for edge rushers who live in violent collisions.

Watt will turn 32 this upcoming season, a daunting number for players fighting to hold onto their prime. He now joins a familiar group — Khalil Mack, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Leonard Floyd — all 33, all still capable, but no longer defining the position.

It’s hard to imagine Watt’s production steadily increasing from here. Time rarely bends for pass rushers. Still, counting him out feels reckless.

The Steelers’ front office clearly agrees. Pittsburgh didn’t hand out a $123 million extension based on nostalgia. This is a “what have you done for me lately” league, and that contract wasn’t charity. The organization believes Watt has more dominance left than the box score currently shows. They see details fans can’t — leverage, pressure rates, leadership, and the way offenses still tilt protection in his direction.

So yes, Myles Garrett is putting distance between himself and Watt in the “best edge rusher” debate. But that may be exactly what Pittsburgh needs. A motivated, doubted, and challenged T.J. Watt is a dangerous thing. If this truly is the beginning of the end, it won’t arrive quietly. And if the Steelers are right, the hunger created by this moment could fuel one more defining run from their defensive anchor.