T.J. Watt Extension Was Essential to Prove Steelers Are All-In for 2025

Essential T okebet-com.J. Watt Extension: Steelers Show Commitment for 2025

Updated Jul. 17, 2025, 9:53 p.m. ET

For all the offseason drama, this move was predictable. If the Steelers were truly going all-in for 2025 — signing Aaron Rodgers, trading for DK Metcalf and Jalen Ramsey, and more — they couldn’t overlook T.J. Watt. After all, he’s one of the key players behind Pittsburgh’s sustained success.

On Thursday, the Steelers made Watt the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history with a three-year deal averaging $41 million annually. This surpasses the contracts of players like Myles Garrett from the Browns and Ja’Marr Chase from the Bengals.

Watt Truly Deserves This

At 30 years old, the edge rusher has dominated the league, leading in sacks in three out of his last four healthy seasons: 15 in 2020, 22.5 in 2021 (tying the league record), and 19 in 2023. As a result, he now has 108 sacks in his career, just 6.5 shy of his brother J.J., a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and future Pro Football Hall of Famer. T.J. has been selected as a Pro Bowler for seven consecutive seasons, surpassing J.J., whose career was hampered by persistent injuries.

Some might consider last season a down year for Watt, registering “only” 11.5 sacks. However, he finished second in tackles for losses with 19 and led the NFL with six forced fumbles. While Pittsburgh has been a good yet frustratingly inconsistent team, they have maintained a .500 record or better in all 16 seasons under head coach Mike Tomlin, despite suffering losses in their last five playoff games.

Steelers’ Strong Turnover Force

Last season, the Steelers excelled in forcing turnovers, which will significantly ease the transition for Rodgers at age 41. jili77 They tied for the league lead with 33 takeaways and 16 forced fumbles, only trailing Buffalo, and held the NFL’s second-best turnover margin at plus-16. This is an advantage that Rodgers hasn’t enjoyed recently, as his teams—the Packers and Jets—had a net-zero turnover margin in his last two healthy seasons jili city.

Throughout his career, Watt has already forced 33 fumbles, ranking fourth for the most in a player’s first eight seasons, behind only Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis, and the late Derrick Thomas. He won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 2021 and has a legitimate chance at claiming another title, trying to keep up with younger elite edge rushers like Aidan Hutchinson from Detroit and Micah Parsons from Dallas.

This offseason has focused heavily on the Steelers’ new additions — starting with Metcalf as a top receiver and then Rodgers, as the team searches for a playmaking passer in the post-Ben Roethlisberger era. Recently, the team traded for Ramsey, a highly regarded All-Pro corner to bolster an essential defensive position.

However, it’s only fitting that Pittsburgh invested significantly in one of their own, a star who has spent his entire career with the Steelers yet has not yet celebrated a playoff victory.

If there’s one thing Watt likely wants to achieve that eludes his brother, it’s enjoying a real and sustained playoff run. J.J. only won a single playoff game in any season, totaling just three in his entire career. Meanwhile, T.J. has a chance to accomplish more as part of a talented, veteran Steelers team. jl3 login app download

This season’s success for Pittsburgh won’t just be about maintaining Tomlin’s streak of avoiding a losing record but also about providing Rodgers with a proper farewell. He hasn’t secured more than one playoff win in any season since his lone Super Bowl victory in 2010, and this may be his final opportunity to prove his post-Packers years are more than just an afterthought.

As a decisive action heading into training camp, signing Watt was an obvious choice for the Steelers, resulting in a massive contract typically reserved for the league’s most elite quarterbacks. Earning $41 million a year isn’t about collecting awards or merely finishing with another winning record. It’s about achieving those victories in January and even February—a time Pittsburgh hasn’t experienced in 15 years.

The Steelers aim for more success this year, and Watt will play a crucial role in any playoff achievements they aspire to realize.

What are your thoughts on T.J. 90 jili slot casino online Watt’s extension and its implications for the Steelers’ future?