Steelers’ T.J. Watt unanimously selected AP All Pro, Cam Heyward also on 1st team

For the second time in three seasons, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive teammates T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward were named first-team AP All-Pro.

Watt, the Steelers’ outside linebacker who tied the NFL season record for sacks with 22½, was a unanimous choice of 50 media members who regularly cover the league. The team was announced Friday.

Watt has been first-team All Pro for three consecutive seasons and is a front-runner to be named NFL Defensive Player of the Year, an award announced next month.

Heyward is on the first team for the third time since 2017; he also was a second-team All-Pro last season. The 11-year veteran almost singlehandedly kept the Steelers defensive line intact in 2021 after the other two starters — Stephon Tuitt and Tyson Alualu — combined for just two games.

The 32-year-old Heyward finished with 10 sacks, nine batted-down balls and an interception, forced fumble and fumble recovery each in racking up a career-high 89 tackles (53 solo, 15 for loss).

Watt, 27, signed a four-year contract with a record $80 million in guarantees days before the season began. In addition to leading the NFL in sacks, Watt had a league-high 21 tackles for loss and added five forced fumbles, seven passes defended, 39 QB hits and three fumble recoveries — all while missing two full games and more than half of three others because of injuries.

Watt and Heyward were the lone Steelers named to the Pro Bowl rosters last month.

The Steelers are scheduled to play at the Kansas City Chiefs in an AFC wild-card playoff game Sunday night.

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