Even in a 17-game season, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense has struggled to replicate one statistic that its 16-season units achieved with regularity. The 50-sack mark was always expected from the unit. Now, it’s a number they’re constantly chasing.
In five years from 2017 through 2021, the Steelers hit 50-plus sacks every single season. That spanned the NFL’s final 16-game seasons and the first under the new 17-game model in 2021. This trend seemed likely to continue. After all, Pittsburgh’s pass rush had plenty of talent, and the extra game made the math easier.
Since then, the Steelers have come close but have been unable to get over the hump: 47 in 2023, 48 in 2025, and a pair of 40-sack clunkers in 2022 (where T.J. Watt missed half the year) and 2024.
Choosing 50 is somewhat arbitrary, and Pittsburgh came close last season. Still, it’s important to set clear and tangible goals that will generally correlate to success, like Mike McCarthy’s “55” number for offensive touches.
For a Steelers’ defense that has invested much in its EDGE rushers and young defensive line, 50 should be the minimum. The baseline. That equates to an average of about 3 sacks per game. Pittsburgh has often padded its numbers with big showings against the Cleveland Browns. In their first meeting in 2025, the Steelers took down Dillon Gabriel six times. Even that plethora of sacks couldn’t get the team to 50. The Browns revamped their offensive line in the offseason, which could make for a tougher challenge.
Consistency is key. In five games, the Steelers notched one or fewer sacks, including two combined sacks across Weeks 10-12. That tanked the team’s average and kept them short of 50.
Health, obvious as it is, plays another factor. Pittsburgh probably reaches the mark in 2025 if Nick Herbig, T.J. Watt, and Alex Highsmith don’t miss a combined nine contests. There’s no guarantee for full availability this time around.
What’s the path to 50? Watt returning to double-digits is a start. Highsmith and Herbig can’t be far behind. The defensive line must carry its own weight, whether Derrick Harmon improves his pass rush in Year Two, Keeanu Benton continues last year’s rush success, or Cam Heyward chips in several of his own.
Though true in most years, the Steelers had so many “almost” sacks. Earlier today, we pointed out one ILB Patrick Queen missed in a big spot against Seattle. I can’t help but think about how close T.J. Watt came to taking down QB Lamar Jackson in the season finale, a play that would’ve been shown a hundred times this offseason. Jackson found a window to target TE Isaiah Likely and nearly ended Pittsburgh’s season.
Look how close Watt was, rushing off the left side.
The difference is in the details. A fraction of a second can be the difference between a big play for the offense or one for the defense. Just like the difference between 48 and 50 sacks can mean the world, too.
It’s why 50 should be the target, and a disappointment if Pittsburgh can’t get back to it.
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