Pittsburgh – TJ Watt and Steelers have agreed to a three-year extension that will make him the highest-paid non-quarterly in NFL history.
Sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Watt turned 31 in October and ended a controversial, months-long contract negotiation with the Steelers on Thursday afternoon with a three-year, $123 million extension. The deal had a $108 million signing, which was higher than the average salary of the Cincinnati Bangladeshi man at $40.25, Cincinnati Bangladeshi star wide receiver Ja'marr Chase and awarded Cleveland Browns' outstanding Edge Edge Rushert Garrett earlier this offseason.
Watt, who led the NFL with 73.5 sacks over the past five seasons, did not report to the Steelers’ compulsory mini camp in June as the two sides negotiated. But with the agreement on the contract, Watt will be expected to report to the Steeler Training Camp at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania on Tuesday.
Watt celebrated the deal by posting a photo of him bending and yelling in his Steeler uniform on Instagram, which is very different from the message he seemed to send earlier in the offseason, with his story post being a peace sign in his uniform.
Although negotiations continue throughout the offseason, the Steelers believe their 2017 first-round draft pick will remain in the organization.
“I hope TJ will complete his career here,” General Manager Omar Khan said at the league meeting in March.
History has been created – again
All five transactions involving the highest APY of non-quarters have occurred.
playerteamapydatet.j. Wattpit $41MJULY 17JA'MARR CHASECIN $40.25mmarch 18Myles Garrettcle $40mmarch 14Danielle Hunterhou $35.6mmarch 21maxx crosbylv $35.5mmarch $35.5mmarch 5– ESPN Research
Watt's teammates are also urging the Steelers to get the voice of the Fringe Stormtroopers. Not only did Aaron Rodgers express his support for Watt during a appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, but defensive captain Cameron Heyward sent a strong message to Khan in an interview with the Rich Eisen Show this week.
“I'm going to Omar, and I told him, 'That didn't happen,'
Now, when the deal is concluded, the Steelers squeeze any lingering drama in one of the team’s defensive cornerstones, they’re heading into a crucial preseason as they overhauled with moves that included signing Rodgers and trade full-time cornerback Jalen Ramsey and broad receiver DK Metcalf. The Steelers last time put Watt as the highest paid non-quarter return in 2021 – a four-year, $112 million deal that hit $28 million a year – both sides disagreed until the days before the regular season opener. Watt reported on the camp to the camp that year, but he spent most of his time working out on the side.
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Watt is the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2021, leading the league three-pointer in three of eight seasons, and he led the forced groping twice, including last season. Even so, Watt struggled in 2024. He finished the year with 11.5 sacks, but he only had two sacks and four quarterbacks hits in five season-end wins at the Steelers. ESPN Research said that in those games, he played 260 of the 261 snapshots on the left. Watt acknowledged his shortcomings during that time and said he would be willing to move around.
“I prefer the left, but at this point in my career, I want to be an influencer player,” he said. “I don't want to be planned in the game. I want to be able to pass football in a good field position or take football away, and that's not good enough for me.”