TJ Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers makes NFL history

Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher TJ Watt is the second fastest player in NFL history to reach the 100-sack plateau.

On the final play of the first quarter in the Steelers’ Week 5 game against the Dallas Cowboys, Watt beat right tackle Terence Steele around the corner and joined Dak Prescott along with Nick Herbig. The pass-rush duo combined for a strip sack that Herbig fell on at Pittsburgh’s own 20-yard line.

Watt is the first Steeler to ever achieve this feat. He reached the mark in the 109th competition of his career, several ahead of DeMarcus Ware, who had previously won the title second fastest after 113 games.

Pro Football Hall of Famer Reggie White is the only player to reach 100 sacks faster, doing so in the 96th game of his career.

TJ has also officially passed his brother JJ, who reached 100 sacks in November 2020 as a member of the Houston Texans after appearing in 120 contests.

Watt became Pittsburgh’s all-time sacks leader in 2023 during a Week 2 game against the Cleveland Browns, passing James Harrison. He is currently ahead of teammate Cameron Heyward, who has also surpassed Harrison’s mark and is in second place with 82.5.

At just 29 years old, Watt is one of the most decorated players in Steelers history. The 2021 Defensive Player of the Year is a four-time first-team All-Pro, six-time Pro Bowler and three-time winner of the Deacon Jones Award, given to the player who leads the league in sacks during a given year.

With 22.5, he is also tied with former New York Giants star Michael Strahan for the most sacks in a single season in NFL history, having already accomplished this in 2021.

Be sure to bookmark Steelers On SI for all your daily Pittsburgh Steelers news, interviews, breakdowns and more!