T.J. Watt’s Record Breaking Extension Completes Steelers’ Bold Offseason

T.J. Watt is not going anywhere — and neither are the Pittsburgh Steelers’ championship hopes.

Watt and the Steelers agreed to a massive three-year, $123 million contract extension Thursday that will pay the star pass rusher $41 million annually, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

The deal, first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, comes after weeks of uncertainty surrounding Watt’s future in Pittsburgh. Though he is a seven-time Pro Bowler and three-time NFL sack leader, Watt entered the offseason without a long-term deal in place, sparking worry across the fanbase.

Rumors had begun to circulate earlier this week that the front office had quietly begun gauging what kind of return Watt might command in the event contract talks stalled out for good.

The Steelers never fully closed the door on a deal. But Watt skipping mandatory minicamp sent a clear message: he wanted to be paid like the league’s top edge rusher. With Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns and Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders both landing new deals this summer, the pressure was on for Pittsburgh to keep pace. And on Thursday they finally blinked.

The agreement not only keeps Watt in black and gold, but it also gives legitimacy to the franchise’s all-in approach to the 2025 season.

The team brought in Aaron Rodgers on a one-year deal — a move that doubled as both a quarterback upgrade and a curtain call for one of the game’s greats.

They shipped George Pickens to Dallas and added proven talent in wide receiver DK Metcalf, cornerback Darius Slay, and safety Juan Thornhill.

On paper, Pittsburgh is far more complete than it was a year ago. But none of those moves would have mattered much if Watt — the team’s emotional and defensive anchor — was not part of the equation.

Whether Rodgers can stay healthy or not, Watt gives the Steelers a foundation. He has long been the player who delivers in crucial moments and now has the financial recognition to match.

After months of speculation, Steelers fans now have their answer. T.J. Watt is staying put — and the Steelers are going for it all in 2025.

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