Pat McAfee pledges $500k to T.J. Watt's charity of choice if he breaks the sack record in 2023
Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt cemented himself as one of the elite pass rushers in the game today when he recorded 22.5 sacks in 2021 to tie Michael Strahan’s NFL single-season sack record.
Injuries the following season, however, hampered his ability to build off his Defensive Player of the Year-winning season. With last season behind him, Watt expects to once again be among the best pass rushers in the league — as does Pat McAfee, who is betting on Watt doing what he came oh so close to doing just two seasons ago.
With Watt as a guest on his show Monday, McAfee said he’d donate $500,000 to a charity of Watt’s choosing if he breaks the single-season sack record in 2023. McAfee noted he came away impressed with Watt’s performance this preseason against the Atlanta Falcons, and is expecting big things from him this season.
“We saw a little push/pull out of you,” McAfee said, via Steelers Depot. “Oh, now everybody on the internet is like, “It’s a third-string offensive lineman.’ That’s an adult, OK? That’s an adult that was training to do that and another adult just picked him up and decided ‘No, you’re not going this way, you’re going this way.’ So, I can’t wait to see what you do this season. 22.5 is a big number. If you break it, we’ll give $500,000 to a charity of your choice. Alright? We’ll just make that right now.”
Watt responded: “I appreciate it. That’s incredible. I’m here for it.”
T.J. Watt feeling like himself again in 2023
To accomplish just that, Watt will need to resemble the 2021 version of himself, and of course, a season without any setbacks. Watt suited up in 10 games in 2022, compiling a career-low 5.5 sacks. The Steelers, who finished 9-8, went 8-2 with Watt in the lineup. Watt, however, admitted he never really got to 100% upon his return.
“As soon as I came back, it never really got to 100 percent,” Watt said this offseason. “But then it was just like every little thing — I had a rib [injury]. I had a thumb. It was just one of those years for me where I just could never get 100 percent fully healthy, so it was a little frustrating.”
But now, Watt is healthy, and with that comes a shot at making NFL history.
“I feel great,” Watt recently said, via DK Pittsburgh Sports. “I really do. It feels good to be back to 100 percent and feeling like myself again, being able to fly around and just have fun. That’s the root of this game. To have fun.”