10 Best NFL Careers in Wisconsin football history
Wisconsin careers. . 2017 NFL Draft. 8. player. . Round 1, Pick 30. T.J. Watt. 55. T.J. Watt
T.J. Watt is the first player on this list that is still active on an NFL roster. Watt is the youngest of the Watt brothers who all came out of Wisconsin. His older brothers J.J. and Derek also went on to play in the NFL.
Watt was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers late in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. There was a lot of hype and wonder about how T.J. would do in the NFL and if he would be like his brothers or not. Watt impressed almost immediately during his rookie season by playing and starting in 15 games, recording an interception, a forced fumble, seven sacks, and 54 total tackles.
After his rookie season, Watt's career took off as he has been voted to the Pro Bowl ever since. Watt was in the voting for Defensive Player of the Year twice before he won it back in 2021 when he led the league in sacks with 22.5 and tackles for loss with 21. He led the same in sacks and tackles for loss the year prior as well and then in 2019 led the league in fumbles with eight.
Recently in 2023, Watt led the league again in sacks with 19 and came in second in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Watt is also a four-time All-Pro First Team selection. In his career so far, Watt has recorded 291 total tackles, 107 tackles for loss, 96.5 sacks, 27 forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries, and seven interceptions. Watt is putting together a Hall of Fame career just seven years into his career.