The Tribune-Review sports staff is conducting a daily countdown of the best players in Pittsburgh pro and college sports history to wear each jersey number.

No. 90: T.J. Watt

It has become as familiar a sight on fall Sundays as fans tailgating and waving the Terrible Towel.

After each sack he records, T.J. Watt celebrates by pulling his shoulders back and kicking his right foot in the air while thrusting both arms down by his side.

It’s something Watt did more than 14 times in 2019 and at least 34 times over the past three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Watt’s knack for making big plays at critical times is one reason why he was picked by the Tribune-Review sports staff as the best athlete to wear No. 90 in Pittsburgh.

Watt has accomplished so much in such a short amount of time it’s almost hard to fathom he is entering just his fourth NFL season.

In the past two seasons, Watt has earned invitations to the Pro Bowl. In 2019, he became a first-team All-Pro after a season in which he contended for NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Watt also has the most sacks by a linebacker (34½) since he broke into the NFL in 2017, and that figure ranks fifth among all NFL players. No player has more forced fumbles than Watt’s 15 over the past three seasons.

In Steelers annals, Watt became the first player to have multiple seasons with at least 13 sacks, hitting that total in 2018 and increasing it to 14½ last season. In 2019, Watt also ranked first or second on the Steelers defense in sacks, tackles for loss, quarterback hits, forced fumbles and fumble recoveries. He also ranked among the top five in the NFL in each category.

Watt becomes the second active player to make the Trib list, joining former Pitt standout defensive lineman Aaron Donald at No. 97.

Also earning consideration at No. 90 was former Pitt defensive end Tony Woods. An All-American in high school, Woods repeated the honor in his senior year at Pitt in 1986. Woods finished his four years with the Panthers with 242 tackles and 31 sacks before embarking on a 10-year NFL career with the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams and Washington Redskins.

Other noteworthy former Steelers players to wear No. 90 include nose tackle Steve McLendon, who was with the organization from 2009-15, and linebacker Travis Kirschke, who earned two Super Bowl rings as a member of the 2005 and ’08 championship teams.

‘Burgh’s Best to Wear It

No. 99

No. 98

No. 97

No. 96

No. 95

No. 94

No. 93

No. 92

No. 91

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