TJ Watt sets all-time Steelers sack record against Browns on Monday Night Football

TJ Watt officially stands alone as the all-time sack leader in Pittsburgh Steelers franchise history.

Watt broke the record in Week 2 against the Cleveland Browns on “Monday Night Football” after sacking quarterback Deshaun Watson during the second quarter. The 28-year-old pass rusher is up to 81.5 sacks for his career, passing James Harrison (80.5) for the most in Steelers history.

New @Steelers franchise record in sacks: @_TJWatt (81.5)

📺: #CLEvsPIT on ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/zWM8hlwLFw pic.twitter.com/UdPDA6daj1

— NFL (@NFL) September 19, 2023

Watt, the 2021 AP Defensive Player of the Year, entered the 2023 season needing three and a half sacks to pass Harrison. He tied the record in the 30-7 Week 1 defeat to the San Francisco 49ers last Sunday, sacking Brock Purdy three times.

Watt, Pittsburgh’s first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft out of Wisconsin, broke Harrison’s single-season sack record in 2021, recording 22.5 sacks. Harrison set the old record in 2008 when he compiled 16.0 sacks. Harrison was among those in attendance at Acrisure Stadium Monday in anticipation of seeing Watt break the record.

“It’s great,” Harrison said, via Teresa Varley of Steelers.com. “That is the whole reason I came, so I could be here in person to see it. Records are meant to be broken and that was one I was happy to see go down, especially watching it here.

“It’s simple. It’s guys that played here wanting to see guys that are currently playing do better and greater things than what the previous group did and holding up what that Steelers’ lore is.”

TJ Watt heading towards Hall of Fame career

As his brother JJ Watt wrote on Twitter, TJ Watt is simply the best.

“TJ WATT is the best defensive player on the planet. Stop trying to question it, stop trying to justify anyone else. He is the best. Period,” the former NFL defensive end tweeted.

While becoming the Steelers’ all-time sack leader is a major accomplishment given the amount of Hall of Fame talent that’s come through the franchise, Watt previously downplayed the personal achievement.

“If it happens Week 1, it happens,” Watt said on NFL Network earlier this month. “If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. That’s the cool thing about this part of my career. Just going out there and working as hard as I possibly can during the week. And letting the tape [and] the game take care of itself. I’m no longer chasing certain numbers per season, per game. I’m just trying to help my team win in the moment.”