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Steelers Star T.J. Watt Honors 13-Year-Old Organ Donor Who Saved His Uncle’s Life

Family holds out hope for boy, 13, in coma after being shot in head on  Queens street

Pittsburgh, PA – October 2, 2025

For years, T.J. Watt has been the cornerstone of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense, known for his relentless pursuit of quarterbacks and leadership on the field. But this week, the star linebacker shared a deeply personal story that goes beyond football—a tale of tragedy, family, and profound gratitude.

Watt revealed that his uncle was one of the recipients of organs donated by Sanjay Samuel, a 13-year-old boy who was fatally shot in Queens. Samuel’s selfless donation saved five lives, including that of Watt’s uncle, who received a life-changing kidney transplant.

Sanjay’s heart, liver, lungs, pancreas, and kidneys brought hope to families across the country. For Watt’s family, the gift was especially personal, as his uncle had endured years of uncertainty and pain while awaiting a transplant.

“I’ll forever be grateful to Sanjay’s family,” Watt said in a heartfelt statement. “In the face of unimaginable loss, they chose to give others a second chance at life. My uncle is here today because of their incredible selflessness, and that’s something I’ll carry with me always.”

Known for his intensity and humility, Watt shared that this experience has reshaped his perspective on life beyond the gridiron. He pledged to honor Sanjay’s legacy by advocating for organ donation programs nationwide, hoping to inspire others to consider the impact of such a selfless act.

The Steelers organization has rallied behind Watt’s cause, with teammates and coaches lauding his leadership both on and off the field. A tribute to Sanjay’s memory is planned for an upcoming home game at Acrisure Stadium, where fans will unite to celebrate the young hero’s legacy.

In Queens, Sanjay’s family found solace in knowing his spirit lives on. “He was a boy full of love and kindness,” his father shared. “That love now lives in the people he saved.”

For T.J. Watt, whose career is defined by sacks and accolades, this moment underscores a deeper truth: while championships fade, the legacy of hope and life endures. Sanjay Samuel will forever be a part of his story.

Chiefs Head Coach Announces Chris Jones to Start on the Bench for Standout Rookie After Costly Mistake vs. Jaguars
  Kansas City, MO —The Kansas City Chiefs’ coaching staff confirmed that Chris Jones will start on the bench in the next game to make way for rookie DT Omarr Norman-Lott, following a mistake viewed as pivotal in the loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The move is framed as a message about discipline and micro-detail up front, while forcing the entire front seven to re-sync with Steve Spagnuolo’s system. Early-week film study highlighted two core issues. First, a neutral-zone/offsides penalty on a late 3rd-and-short that extended a Jaguars drive and set up the decisive points. Second, a Tex stunt (tackle–end exchange) that broke timing: the call asked Jones to spike the B-gap to occupy the guard while the end looped into the A-gap, but the footwork and shoulder angle didn’t marry, opening a clear cutback lane. To Spagnuolo, this was more than an individual error—it was a warning about snap discipline, gap integrity, pad level, and landmarks at contact, the very details that define Kansas City’s “January standard.” Under the adjusted plan, Omarr Norman-Lott takes the base/early-downs start to tighten interior gap discipline, stabilize run fits, and give the call sheet a cleaner platform. Chris Jones is not being shelved; he’ll be “lit up” in high-leverage situations—3rd-and-long, two-minute stretches, and the red zone—where his interior surge can collapse the pocket and force quarterbacks to drift into edge pursuit. In parallel, the staff will streamline the call sheet with the line group, standardize stunt tags (Tex/Pir), shrink the late-stem window pre-snap, and ramp game-speed reps in 9-on-7 and 11-on-11 so everyone is “seeing it the same, triggering the same.” Meeting the decision head-on, Jones kept it brief but competitive: “I can’t accept letting a kid take my spot, but I respect the coach’s decision. Let’s see what we’re saying after the game. I’ll practice and wait for my chance. When the ball is snapped, the QB will know who I am.” At team level, the Chiefs are banking on a well-timed hard brake to restore core principles: no free yards, no lost fits, more 3rd-and-longs forced, and the return of negative plays (TFLs, QB hits) that flip field position. In an AFC where margins often come down to half a step at the line, getting back to micro-details—from the first heel strike at the snap to the shoulder angle on contact—remains the fastest route for Kansas City to rebound from the stumble against Jacksonville.