Steelers Insider Offers Insight On T.J. Watt’s Future With Pittsburgh

The future of Pittsburgh Steelers star T.J. Watt remains the subject of speculation this offseason.

Watt is entering the final year of his contract in Pittsburgh. The Steelers haven’t extended the eight-year veteran and seven-time Pro Bowler yet, and the rumblings have been silent. So with minimal traction, plus a cryptic Instagram post published by Watt, concern levels have begun to rise among the fanbase.

But is there a reason to hit the panic button?

“Look, T.J. wants to stay here. They want to keep him here,” Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette told “The Rich Eisen Show” on Friday. “What it’s going to take? We’ll see. I can’t answer that question right now. I think it’s an end-of-the-summer type of — August, for sure — situation where that’s when it would get resolved. He was a hold-in last time and then, of course, they gave him that monster deal.”

Dulac continued: “I don’t read into this situation as T.J. Watt is the next one out the door. I think he would be at least third in line if that were to happen.”

Steelers general manager Omar Khan has had a busy offseason. Khan acquired star wideout DK Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks, is deeply engaged in free agency discussions with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and has met with countless prospects ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. Plus, Watt isn’t the only impending free agent on Pittsburgh’s roster as teammate George Pickens, too, is set to hit the open market in 2026.

Khan has already spoken on behalf of the organization regarding its stance on Watt.

“T.J. is one of those legacy guys,” Khan said in February at the NFL Combine, per TribLive’s Joe Rutter. “I was around Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu, and those guys spent their entire careers with us, and that’s a special thing. I’m hopeful and confident that T.J. will be one of those guys.”

If Watt desires to remain with Pittsburgh and the franchise shares that sentiment, then a deal between both sides should come to life at some point before Watt gets a chance to hit free agency.

More Steelers: Former NFL GM Encourages Steelers To Pull Off Pre-Draft Trade