• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Larry Brown Sports

Larry Brown Sports

Brown Bag it, Baby

  • Home
  • Blog View
  • NFL
  • NCAAF
  • NBA
  • MLB
  • Media
  • Headlines
  • Podcast
Featured StoriesFootballTJ Watt

TJ Watt shares the reason he violated cell phone rule during game

January 21, 2022 by Grey Papke • Comments
FacebookTweetLinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsAppEmail
TJ Watt in a shirt
Jan 4, 2020; Houston, Texas, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt on the field before the AFC Wild Card NFL Playoff game between the Houston Texans and the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

TJ Watt

The NFL has a rule against players using cell phones during games for any reason. TJ Watt felt he had to break that rule during the Pittsburgh Steelers’ regular season finale.

Watt was in pursuit of the NFL’s single-season sack record against the Baltimore Ravens, and there was some doubt whether he’d been credited with a sack on the first half of his Week 18 game. That’s why, as Watt admitted on “The Dan Patrick Show,” the star pass rusher simply had to check on his phone at halftime after hearing conflicting information from staff.

https://twitter.com/jpafootball/status/1484028167765512201

“I thought I had two (sacks), so I checked my phone at halftime, which I never do,” Watt admitted. “Then JJ and my brothers, the group chat, was like ‘they only gave you one, man, you gotta go get another.'”

Watt could face a fine for his admission, though he might be happy to pay it. The sack record was clearly important to him, just as it was to the Steelers. If he wasn’t sure where he stood, he had to find out somehow.

  • i want more great stories!

Sign up today for free and get the best sports content sent to your inbox.

You can unsubscribe anytime. For more details, review our Privacy Policy.

.

Follow Us

Get instantly notified of the most viral news stories via Google!

  • Trending stories

Caleb Williams down in pain

Caleb Williams goes down with a worrisome non-contact injury

3 days ago
A Texas helmet on the bench

Texas coach charged with DWI

6 days ago
Dan Lanning grinning

Fans call out Oregon for ‘classless’ move in 84-0 beatdown of Portland State

4 days ago
Tim Tebow wearing a broadcasting headset

Chase Daniel comment nearly led to Tim Tebow storming off set

3 days ago
Jimbo Fisher with a headset on

Jimbo Fisher reportedly wants 1 of his old jobs back

5 days ago

Sidebar


  • don’t miss these

Chris Spatola smiling

ESPN analyst Chris Spatola dies unexpectedly at age 47

8 hours ago250
Jaxson Dart at a press conference

Jaxson Dart’s injury is now worse than expected

15 hours ago311
Bears helmet on the field

Bears quarterback situation takes another concerning turn

15 hours ago174
Eagles helmet

Eagles add former Pro Bowl CB on $3 million deal

15 hours ago52
Drew Brees in a suit

Drew Brees sets the record straight on Broncos’ AFC title game contact

15 hours ago151
Will Levis without a helmet

Will Levis has signed with a new NFL team

16 hours ago222
  • popular stories

Tony Dungy with a hat on

Tony Dungy gets his Hall of Fame vote taken away

Peyton Manning smiling

Bad news emerges for Peyton, Eli Manning’s ‘ManningCast’

Jayden Daniels suffering a gruesome elbow injury

Tom Brady had profane live reaction to gruesome Jayden Daniels elbow injury

Colts wide receiver Laquon Treadwell sliding after making a catch before what was initially ruled a fumble against the Chiefs

Controversial ruling rocked the ending of Chiefs-Colts OT game on ‘SNF’

Brian Kelly in an LSU shirt

Brian Kelly is being linked to 1 college head coach job

Mike Evans reaches to catch a ball

Notable update on Mike Evans’ injury emerges after 49ers-Dolphins game

Get the App

© 2026 · LB Sports Media Group Inc · Powered by Springwire.ai

Privacy Manager © 2026 · All Rights Reserved
  • X
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • RSS Feed
  • About Larry Brown Sports
  • Contact
  • Editorial Process
  • Staff Writers
  • Privacy Policy
Dedicated to the memory of Nevil Vega
Team/Player Stats