T.J. Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick headline Steelers' 2024 Pro Bowl selections
The Pittsburgh Steelers have had several standouts this season, three earning recognition Wednesday as selections to the 2024 Pro Bowl roster.
Steelers 2024 Pro Bowl selections
- LB T.J. Watt (6th selection)
- S Minkah Fitzpatrick (4th selection)
- ST Miles Killebrew (1st selection)
Watt headlines Pittsburgh’s selections, as he typically does. This year’s selection is his sixth and for good reason. The 29-year-old leads the NFL with 17.0 sacks and if that holds after Week 18, he will become the first player in league history to lead the league in sacks three times. Watt is tied for first in quarterback hits (33), tied for second in fumble recoveries (3), tied for fifth in forced fumbles (4) and tied for sixth in tackles for a loss (16), per Steelers.com.
“Not only for the defense but for our football team,” head coach Mike Tomlin said of Watt in November. “There is a lot to learn from him in terms of how he goes about his business, how he works to maximize his talent level. What he does to maintain a level of production.
“Let’s be honest. T.J. is the best defensive player on the planet right now. And he proves that week in and week out with the plays that he delivers us.”
Tomlin added: “I get a bird’s eye view of it. I see the lengths that people go through to minimize his impact on the game. I know the type of games that we’ve been in close ball games and you know how, at times it minimizes a guy that plays his position’s ability to impact the game. None of those things slow down that train that we all know what’s coming. And so we’re just appreciative of it.”
3 Steelers earn Pro Bowl nominations
Joining Watt as a Pro Bowl representative is Fitzpatrick, his fourth selection. His selection comes as a slight surprise as he’s only suited up in 10 games this season due to injuries. Fitzpatrick has recorded 64 tackles (43 solo) one tackle for loss and three passes defensed.
Killebrew takes the final Pro Bowl spot as a special teams ace. The 30-year-old leads the Steelers with 13 special teams tackles, including 11 solo stops. Killebrew has blocked three punts since signing with the Steelers in 2021, tied for the most by any team, not just players, in the NFL since that time.