T.J. Watt has been named the 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

Watt received 42 first-place votes, beating out Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (five first-place votes) and Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (three first-place votes). Donald had won the award in three of the previous four years and bested Watt 27-20 in first-place votes last year.

J.J. Watt, a three-time NFL defensive player of the year, presented T.J. with the award.

Watt finished the season with 22 ½ sacks. Watt had 49 tackles, 21 for loss and registered 39 quarterback hits, all in 15 games as he battled through hip and groin injuries for much of the season.