The Steelers have locked up Watt for the long-term future
At long last, the Pittsburgh Steelers and T.J. Watt have agreed to a contract extension. Pittsburgh and Watt reached an agreement on a three-year, $123 million deal with $108 million fully guaranteed at signing, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.
ESPN sources: Steelers star TJ Watt has become the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history for the second time in his illustrious career, reaching agreement today on a three-year, $123 million extension that includes $108M fully guaranteed at signing. The $41 million per year average… pic.twitter.com/si6V7FUdlp
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 17, 2025
Watt will now make $41 million per year, the most money for any non-quarterback in the NFL. Maxx Crosby of theLas Vegas Raiders set the record earlier this seson before it was broken by Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett. It was apparent that Watt wanted to make more than Garrett, and he got his wish.
Watt is a former Defensive Player of the Year, and has finished in the top five for the award five times. He is a seven-time Pro Bowler and a four-time First-Team All-Pro selection. He is the franchise’s all-time leading sack-getter with 108 career takedowns of the quarterback – a number that will only grow over the next four seasons that he is under contract with the team.
The Steelers now have all of their superstars locked up and ready for the 2025 season. With the likes of DK Metcalf, Aaron Rodgers, Jonnu Smith, and Jalen Ramsey joining the fray in 2025, as well as first-round pick Derrick Harmon, the Steelers have a team that they believe can make a run into January. Now, it’s just a matter of putting it together.