Pat McAfee, the sports media darling at the center of ESPN’s recent restructuring, has issued a challenge and has made a deal with T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Watt is the co-owner of the NFL sack record with former New York Giants edge rusher and now TV star Michael Strahan.
During his record-tying season, Watt claimed the 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, but last year was a different story. He was injured early in the season, so his shot of setting the coveted sack total ended abruptly.
What Promise Did Pat McAfee Make With T.J. Watt?
McAfee promised to donate $500,000 to the charity of Watt’s choice if the Steelers edge rusher can break the record for most sacks in a season. Watt is the brother of J.J. Watt and has emerged from his brother’s shadow as one of the top defenders in the game today.
𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚: Pat McAfee says he’ll donate $500,000 to the charity of #Steelers TJ Watt’s choice if he breaks the 22.5 sack record in 2023, which is currently held by Watt and Michael Strahan.
Very standup move by Pat McAfee and extra motivation for TJ Watt to go off in… pic.twitter.com/EoXHxuhEly
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) August 28, 2023
Reportedly, Watt has looked sensational throughout the Steelers’ camp and is ready for a bounce-back season. Watt totaled 5.5 sacks in 2022, a far cry from 22.5, but the last time we saw him healthy for an entire season, he terrorized NFL quarterbacks.
Can T.J. Watt Break the Season Sack Record?
Can Watt break the record? He has the regular-season sack record alongside Strahan, so he can. But will he?
Pat McAfee donating $500,000 to the charity of TJ Watt’s choice if he records over 22.5 sacks this season pic.twitter.com/wLQujmtIC9
— BBC Sports Cards (@bbcsportscards) August 29, 2023
Watt played exceedingly well in 2021, and many things went his way. After all, things do have to break your way to break an NFL record.
MORE: Pat McAfee Weighs in on Stetson Bennett
Watt was white hot to end the 2021 season. He had four sacks in Week 16, and headed into the final week needing 1.5 sacks to break the record. Watt sacked Ravens QB Lamar Jackson once, hence tying the record. For his career, Watt has 77.5 sacks.
TJ Watt is Coming for the Steelers sack record #steelers pic.twitter.com/qqzFu3yXXT
— matthew luciow (@Luciow1992) May 7, 2023
It helps when the Steelers have a high-end pass rusher opposite Watt, so teams can’t simply slide protections in his direction all the time. Unfortunately, finding another player close to his caliber is hard to find. Although Pittsburgh has serviceable pass rushers, there’s no one on Watt’s level.
Watt is no stranger to constant double-teams and can get to the QB no matter the blocking scheme. He’s poised for a bounce-back season, but one worthy of breaking the single-season sack record? Even if he has a Pro Bowl-caliber season, which is to be expected, Watt won’t get within sniffing distance of the sack record.
Perhaps McAfee will donate per sack, so we all win.