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Wisconsin Football: Taylor and Watt named to NFL All-Pro team

By Christian Borman

Jan 9, 2022; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt (90) reacts after sacking Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley (2) during the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2022; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt (90) reacts after sacking Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley (2) during the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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The NFL All-Pro teams were released today and the Wisconsin football program is well-represented. Jonathan Taylor and T.J. Watt were both voted to the All-Pro First Team.

What makes these selections even more impressive is that both Taylor and Watt were unanimous selections. Both Taylor and Watt received all 50 possible votes.  Being that there is only one running back position on the All-Pro team, that means Taylor is the only running back to receive a vote and there isn’t a running back on the second All-Pro team.

Jonathan Taylor led the NFL in rushing yards this season with 1,811 yards. The next closest running back was Nick Chubb, who ran for 1,259 yards. Taylor also added on 18 rushing touchdowns, which was also the most in the league. Taylor is going to be widely regarded as one of the top running backs in the league for the foreseeable.

Taylor is also the first running back from the Wisconsin football team to make an NFL All-Pro first team since Alan Ameche in 1955. Running backs from the Wisconsin football program have really been taking off lately and definitely earning the RBU claim.

T.J. Watt also had a season for the ages. He led the NFL with 22.5 sacks, tying Michael Strahan for the most ever in a season. And before anyone says it’s not legitimate because the NFL added another game to the regular season this year, Watt missed two games with injuries. He played just 15 games and still had 22.5 sacks. Michael Strahan played in all 16 games during his record-breaking season. If Watt played in just one more game, it’s not out of the question that he would have picked up at least another half of a sack to break Strahan’s record.

Watt was the only player at the edge position that received all 50 votes. The next highest vote-getter was the Browns’ Myles Garrett, who received 29 votes.

There’s no question that Jonathan Taylor and T.J. Watt are both at the top of their respective positions. It’s fun to see former Wisconsin football players have success in the NFL and just shows that they can get talent into the NFL and succeed at the next level.