Patrick Surtain II wins 2024 Defensive Player of the Year, T.J. Watt finishes fourth

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt has once again fallen short in the race for the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year Award, finishing fourth in the voting behind Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II, who won the award, Cincinnati Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson, and Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett. Despite a solid season with 11.5 sacks and leading the league in forced fumbles, Watt's performance declined towards the end of the season, affecting his candidacy. This marks the second consecutive year that Watt has been a finalist but did not win, having lost to Garrett in 2023. Surtain, at just 24 years old, is celebrated for his impressive season, contributing significantly to one of the NFL's top defenses. Watt's struggles in the final games, where he went without a sack, contrasted sharply with his previous campaigns, leading analysts to view his nomination as less compelling this year. Although Watt remains a highly regarded player, he continues to seek his second DPOY award, having previously won in 2021.