Steelers' T.J. Watt moves past big brother J.J. on all-time sack list with strip-sack vs. Bears

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T.J. Watt is now officially 26th all-time on the NFL sack list.

Perhaps more importantly for the Pittsburgh Steelers pass rusher is that he became No. 1 in the Watt family.

Watt strip-sacked Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams in the second quarter of Sunday’s 31-28 loss, giving him 115 sacks for his career, surpassing his brother J.J. Watt’s career total (114.5).

The fumble was recovered in the end zone by Steelers teammate Nick Herbig, giving Pittsburgh a 14-7 lead.

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Heading into Week 12, T.J. Watt was in a logjam on the all-time sack charts, surrounded by his big brother and two of his contemporaries: current Arizona Cardinal Calais Campbell (25th, 115.5) and Cleveland Browns rival Myles Garrett (24th, 117.5), who each take the field in Sunday’s late window.

J.J. Watt is a future Hall of Famer following a decorated 12-year career with the Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals from 2011-2022, with five All-Pro nods, three AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year accolades and six double-digit sack seasons.

Younger brother T.J., a seven-time Pro Bowler, four-time All-Pro and one-time DPOY recipient, joined the league in 2017 and has moved up the sack ranks at a quicker pace, having rushed by his older sibling in just his ninth season.

J.J., now retired and a CBS Sports color commentator, just so happened to be on the call for T.J.’s historic play.

“If he’s gonna pass my record, that’s one hell of a way to do it with a strip-sack causing a touchdown,” J.J. said. “Good for you, T.J.”

At 31, T.J. figures to have plenty more playing time to continue rising up the all-time ranks and putting some more space between him and his big bro.

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