The Pittsburgh Steelers have always been known for their strong defense. Recently, when the offense has struggled, the Steelers defense has stepped up to secure victories. A key factor in this defensive success is TJ Watt, whom the Steelers drafted in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
Since joining the team, Watt has been instrumental in many of the Steelers' wins, even turning the tide in games they were not expected to win. Many consider Watt to be the most valuable non-quarterback in the NFL. In the 2023 season, he led the league in sacks with 19. Despite this impressive performance, he was controversially overlooked for the AP Defensive Player of the Year Award.
In other team news, long snapper Christian Kuntz has recently started a podcast. In the first episode, his co-host asked him to name the best trash talkers on the team. Known for his own trash-talking skills, Kuntz revealed that Watt is also quite vocal on the field.
“I mean dude, many guys are better than me at sh** talking. I would not say that I am the best sh** talker. I am just out there just chirping. I feel like it just brings a little competitive juice. It is cool to see these unbelievable players. Like complete studs, they are getting into that talking. I know TJ talks. He does not have to say much. It is something subtle like, ‘I’m just killing you right now.’ A mic’d up would not be nice. My mom would not approve of that.”
Steelers fans know that Watt is a phenomenal presence on the football field. As one of the most dominant defensive players in the game for quite some time, Watt combines his super mellow demeanor with a no-nonsense approach to the game. He shows up, plays his absolute hardest, never takes plays off, and is known as one of the toughest players in the league.
While many stars are famous for their trash-talking abilities, Watt is not typically heard engaging in such behavior during games. However, his teammate Kuntz recently exposed that Watt can be quite vocal on the field. Watt's brand of trash talk is straightforward, often narrating the game as it unfolds.
Kuntz shared that Watt will talk to the opposing team's offensive tackles, telling them he's destroying them. This style of trash talk fits perfectly with Watt's persona. Though he usually lets his performance speak for itself, he isn't shy about celebrating big plays and firing up the crowd.
Watt has been an outstanding player for the Steelers and one of their best draft picks in recent years. However, as he gets older, it's noticeable that a playoff win is missing from his resume. The 2024 season is shaping up to be a strong one for Pittsburgh.
They play in the AFC North, the most competitive division in football. It won't be easy, but with a motivated Watt and improvements across the team, Pittsburgh could surprise many in 2024 and look to end their playoff drought.
