Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt matched the NFL’s official single-season sack record of 22.5 by corralling Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley in the final minute of the first half during Sunday’s 16-13 overtime victory.
The sack, the only one of the game for Watt, enabled him to tie Michael Strahan, who set the record in 2001 for the New York Giants.
The Ravens had first-and-goal at the Pittsburgh 3-yard line when Huntley dropped back to pass and Watt recorded the big sack with 23 seconds left in the half.
“I don’t know if any of this has hit me,” Watt said postgame of matching the record. “It’s not just myself. It’s so many other people involved, great players, coaches, schemes, and a lot of unselfish guys in the locker room that allow me to make plays. So that record is not just mine.”
Older brother J.J. Watt of the Arizona Cardinals took notice and expressed his congratulations on Twitter.
“No words, just proud. Unbelievable @_TJWatt,”
Watt had 3.5 sacks against Baltimore in this season’s first meeting, won 20-19 by the Steelers on Dec. 5.
Sacks didn’t become an official stat until 1982. Al “Bubba” Baker of the Detroit Lions registered 23 in 1978, an unofficial record.