
Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
TJ Watt is signing a massive contract extension with the Pittsburgh Steelers after holding out all offseason. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Watt has agreed to a three-year, $123 million contract that includes $108 million fully guaranteed at signing. He has become he highest-paid non-QB in NFL history for the second time in his career.
Before signing the new deal, TJ Watt was entering the final year of his contract. In 2021, the Wisconsin alum signed a four-year, $112 million contract with $80 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL at that time.
After signing the contract, Watt went on to tie the NFL record for sacks in a season with 22.5. His production in 2021 led to him being named Defensive Player of the Year.
Last year, Watt recorded 11.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss in 17 regular-season games. He was named to the seventh consecutive Pro Bowl and the All-Pro Second Team for the second time in his career.
As great as the 2024 season was for Watt from an individual perspective, he wants to win a Super Bowl. After the Steelers lost to the Baltimore Ravens in the playoffs last year, Watt expressed his frustration to reporters.
Can TJ Watt win a Super Bowl with the Steelers?
“It gets more and more frustrating as the years go by,” Watt said. “Tough conversations need to be had. We can’t keep doing the same thing and expect different results. That’s starting with myself.”
Watt then stressed he did not want to leave the Steelers. “It’s tough. Sit here same time as last year, same time have been in this scrum,” Watt said. “Same questions, and I had the same answers. Obviously, I’m very frustrated with how things ended. That’s not just with the last game, that’s with the last month of football. It’s a collection of things and it starts with myself. I need to play better. We need to play better.
“There’s not one thing that needs to be fixed here. There’s a lot of things. But it starts internally with myself. Need to play better in bigger moments. It’ll be a long offseason to have to sit with that.”
Watt has been with the Steelers since the team selected him in the first round (No. 30 overall) in the draft. Along with being a seven-time Pro Bowl and NFL Defensive Player of the Year, the 30-year-old has been selected to the All-Pro Team six times and led the NFL in forced fumbles in 2019 and 2024.