The former Defensive Player of the Year has a new deal to extend his career with the Steelers.
T.J. Watt has agreed to a 3-year, $123 million extension with the Pittsburgh Steelers, officially making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Thursday.
Watt, 30, has played his entire eight-season NFL career with the Steelers, who selected him in the first round with the No. 30 pick in the 2017 draft. Watt has paid off handsomely on Pittsburgh's investment.
Watt recorded seven sacks as a rookie and has made the Pro Bowl in each of his seven seasons since. He's a five-time All-Pro with four selections to the first team. He was the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 and has finished in the top four of voting for the award five times.
Watt has led the league in sacks three times, including his career high tally of 22.5 in 2021, which is tied with Michael Strahan for the most sacks in a single season in NFL history. His career sack tally stands at 108 for an average of 13.5 per season.
Watt also has 225 career quarterback hits, seven interceptions, 49 passes defended, 12 fumble recoveries and 33 forced fumbles. He's led the league in forced fumbles twice.
Can Watt continue to deliver at an All-Pro level?
Entering his age-31 season, Watt remains one of the most disruptive forces in football. In 2024, he posted 11.5 sacks, 27 quarterback hits and led the NFL with six forced fumbles.
Watt is also one of the most durable defenders in football. He suffered a pectoral tear in Week 1 of the 2022 season on the heels of his Defensive Player of the Year campaign. He still managed to play 10 games that season and earn Pro Bowl honors. In each of Watt's other seven seasons, he's played in 15 games or more.
Watt signs his extension while entering the fifth year of his previous five-year, $112 million extension to his rookie deal.
Category: General Sports
