The Pittsburgh Steelers just released some huge news! They’ve signed star linebacker T.J. Watt to a three-year contract extension, making him the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history. The agreement was completed Thursday afternoon. For reference, it’s kind of crazy, but his value is $123 million, with an insane $108 million guaranteed at signing.
With this new contract, Watt further enshrines himself as a financial pioneer in his profession. First, he’s going to make an incredible average of $41 million a year. This number is already a record in the private sector that breaks the record previously held by Ja’Marr Chase and Myles Garrett, who both averaged $40.25 million and $40 million per year, respectively. The extension underscores the Steelers’ commitment to retaining one of the league’s premier defensive talents.
T.J. Watt turns 31 this October. He’s earned his spot in the history of the NFL for how dominant and consistent he performed on the field. Over his eight-season career, he has led the league in sacks for three seasons and has been a formidable force in creating turnovers, leading in forced fumbles twice, including last season. His achievements in turn led him to becoming the consensus 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. That honor served to cement his reputation as one of the best defensive players in the game, period.
Watt’s recent seasons have been defined by historic consistency. He ranks first in the NFL with an astounding 73.5 sacks in that span. Even through a brutal test in a difficult five-game L position to close out the 2024 season, in which he tallied just two sacks and four QB hits, he battled back to finish with 11.5 sacks.
Watt’s path to this unprecedented deal wasn’t without its challenges. He missed the Steelers’ mandatory minicamp in June as negotiations dragged on. General Manager Omar Khan expressed optimism about Watt’s future with the team, stating, “I’m hopeful T.J. Watt will finish his career here.”
As for Watt himself, he continues to be singularly preoccupied with professional growth and doing good work on and off the field. “I prefer the left, but at this point in my career, I want to be an impact player,” he mentioned during a recent interview. He admitted that he wanted to be less “schemed out of games” and put a premium on putting guys in position to perform at a high level.
Help for Watt has arrived from his fellow NFL players. Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers recently voiced his admiration for Watt during appearances on “The Pat McAfee Show” and “The Rich Eisen Show,” highlighting his significance to the game.
Cameron Heyward, a teammate of Watt’s, shared his own thoughts on the negotiations, humorously reflecting on the situation: “I’m going up to Omar and I’m telling him, ‘That’s not happening.’”
T.J. Watt is looking forward to beginning his own chapter in Steelers lore. As for he and the organization, both are thrilled to continue growing their fruitful partnership together.
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