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In a vote determined by his peers, J.J. Watt was selected as the No. 1 in the NFL Network's Top 100 Players of 2014.
The summer-long countdown concluded Wednesday night in a two-hour finale, with Watt being unveiled as the best among the league's elite with his record-breaking 2014 performance. He became not only the first defensive player to top the list, but the first to ever crack the top three in the five-year history of the countdown. Watt's highest appearance was at No. 5 just two years ago.
The 2014 unanimous Defensive Player of the Year adds this latest accolade after a historic season. Watt became the first player in NFL history to record two seasons with more than 20 sacks (20.5 in 2012 and again in 2014). He also joined Jason Taylor as the only player to record 10 sacks and 10 passes defensed in two different seasons since 1991.
After signing a 6-year contract extension in September, Watt proved his worth, leading the league with 50 quarterback hits (the most since the NFL began tracking the statistic), 29 tackles for loss, and five fumble recoveries.
The three-time All-Pro didn't limit his accomplishments to the defensive side of the ball, catching three touchdown receptions. He became the first defensive lineman since Chicago Bears DE Connie Mack Berry in 1944 to have at least five touchdowns in a season. Watt is just the fourth player in NFL history and the first in more than 50 years to have a touchdown reception, interception returned for a touchdown, and fumble recovery for a score in the same season.
Defensive end J.J. Watt's 2014 was one to remember. Game-by-game, a Texans' opponent shared his thoughts on the Defensive Player of the Year.
1 sack, 5 QB hits, 2 TFL, 1 FR, 1 blocked extra point "Of course J.J. Watt is going to make some plays. He's going to do that."- Washington OT Trent Williams
1 QB hit that caused an INT, 1 TD reception on offense "We knew we wanted to try to make sure we knew where he was on every play."- Oakland head coach Dennis Allen
7 tackles, 1 sack, 2 TFL and 1 batted pass"Every time I got an interview last week it was, 'What's J.J. Watt going to do?' I was overthinking it the first play I went out there, so obviously I wish I could get that back."-New York OT Jordan Pugh
9 QB hits, 1 INT returned 80 yards for a TD"When you see something like that happen, you just have to sit back and tip your hat to a guy like that. They didn't pay him all that money for no reason."- Buffalo RB Fred Jackson
4 tackles"He's the best player in the NFL. I believe that."-Dallas Owner Jerry Jones
2 sacks, 3 TFL, 1 FR for a TD. "He'll go down as one of the best defensive players probably when it is all said and done to play the game."- Colts HC Chuck Pagano:
1 sack, 1 FR, 2 QB hits "He's a good player. You all know that. It's a dog fight in there."- Pittsburgh C Maurkice Pouncey
2 sacks, 1 FF, 1 batted pass "You got 99 over there, you got to get the ball in your hand quick." -Tennessee QB Zac Mettenberger
1.5 sacks, 7 tackles, 5 QB hits "Watt and Mercilus and those guys we talked about earlier in the week, they're the real deal."
1 sack, 3 TFL, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 TD catch on offense "He's a great player and he's the type of player that makes the players around him better, too."- Cleveland QB Brian Hoyer
7 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 QB hit "He's a great player. He makes you honest every play, every snap in the first, second, third and fourth quarter."-Cincinnati offensive tackle Marshall Newhouse
2 sacks, 6 QB hits, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 TD catch on offense "He's putting a good case for himself to be MVP this year."- Tennessee QB Zac Mettenberger
3 sacks, 4 TFL, 5 QB hits "Great football player and is one of those guys that have the ability to just to make plays, create turnovers, create havoc."- Jacksonville OT Luke Joeckel
2 sacks, 6 tackles and 1 batted pass "He's a heck of a player. He's going to make plays, we knew that."- Indianapolis QB Andrew Luck
1 sack, 3 TFL, 8 total tackles, 4 QB hits"I respect the heck out of him. He's very savvy and smart."- Baltimore receiver Steve Smith, Sr.
3 sacks (1 for a safety), 4 TFL, 1 FF "He's got what, 20 sacks? He is a very, very dominant player and he is going to get some opportunities."- Jacksonville head coach Gus Bradley
