Aaron Donald beats out T.J. Watt for PFWA defensive award; major AP honor 2 weeks away

Chris Adamski
Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021 2:43 p.m. | Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021 2:43 p.m.

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Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald smiles as he stands on the sideline during a playoff game earlier this month. An alumnus of Penn Hills High School and Pitt, Donald was named the Pro Football Writers of America’s defensive player of the year. He and Watt are considered the major candidates for that honor and the more prestigious AP NFL defensive player of the year award.

Though the most prestigious prize hasn’t yet been revealed, Penn Hills’ Aaron Donald beat out the Steelers’ T.J. Watt in regards to a national vote to determine the 2020 NFL season’s best defensive player.

Donald on Wednesday was announced as the Pro Football Writers of America’s defensive player of the year. Though the placed balloting was not announced, the Los Angeles Rams star defensive tackle beat out Watt for the honor. Donald and Watt are considered the two leading candidates to be named AP NFL defensive player of the year, an award considered the gold standard for those who play defense.

The voting for the PFWA honor was from hundreds of media members who cover one or more of the league’s 32 teams and are dues-paying members into the 57-year-old association.

AP DPOY voting is done by a panel of 50 that are chosen as “a cross-section” of league observers such as team beat writers and journalists and broadcasters from national outlets.

Watt led the NFL in sacks with 15 in 15 games; Donald was tied for second with 13 ½ in 16 games. Watt also led the league in tackles for loss (23) and QB hits (41). Donald finished the season tied for sixth and tied for fifth in those categories with 14 and 27, respectively.

Even though he will sit out today's regular-season finale at the Cleveland Browns, T.J. Watt has made as strong a case as anyone to embark in pursuit of older brother J.J. in collecting NFL Defensive Player of the Year trophies. #Steelers https://t.co/qJpyEoCzbn

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) January 3, 2021

Donald, a former All-American at Pitt, played for the NFL’s No. 1-ranked defense this season. He also won the PFWA defensive honor in 2018. But Donald took home the AP honor in 2017, one of three occasions since 2010 in which the PFWA and AP voting differed for best defensive player.

The AP award is announced the night before the Super Bowl in a made-for-TV event.

Other, longer-shot candidates for defensive player of the year are Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard (NFL-most 10 interceptions), Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett and Chicago Bears edge rusher Khalil Mack.

In the other major PFWA awards announced Wednesday, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was named most valuable player and Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry the offensive player of the year.

Hey, Steelers Nation, get the latest news about the Pittsburgh Steelers here.

Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.