The Pittsburgh Steelers made T.J. Watt the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history in July 2025. Is the historic $123M deal a brilliant move or a massive risk?
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
Just days before the team buses head to Latrobe, the Pittsburgh Steelers have made a franchise-altering move. The team signed superstar linebacker T.J. Watt to a colossal three-year, $123 million extension, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the history of the National Football League. The deal ensures the face of the defense remains in black and gold, but it comes at a historic price.
TJ Watt just bent the Steelers over his knee and spanked the living mercy out of them. Highest-paid non-QB ever for a guy who hasn't won a playoff game, has injury concerns, and isn't getting any younger.
The numbers are staggering. The three-year extension carries an average annual value of $41 million and includes a jaw-dropping $108 million fully guaranteed at signing. For a player who has been the engine of the Steelers' defense for years, it's a well-deserved payday. Watt, 30, has been remarkably durable recently, playing all 17 games in the last two seasons. His 2024 campaign was dominant, featuring 19 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, and a league-leading six forced fumbles. With 108 career sacks, he's already climbing the all-time leaderboards, and this contract solidifies his status as a Steelers legend.
While Steeler Nation celebrates, a vocal segment of fans and analysts are pumping the brakes. The concern is simple: is it wise to give this much guaranteed money to a 30-year-old edge rusher? Watt turns 31 this season, an age when many at his position begin to decline. While his recent durability is a plus, the memory of the pectoral injury that cost him time in 2022 lingers. Furthermore, his 11.5 sacks last season were his lowest in a full season since his rookie year, and he failed to record a single sack in the final four games of the season. The debate is raging on social media, with many questioning the long-term value of a deal for a player who, despite his individual brilliance, has yet to win a playoff game.
With the contract drama officially in the rearview mirror, the focus now shifts squarely to the football field. The Steelers officially announced that players will report to Saint Vincent College for training camp on Wednesday, July 23. Watt's massive extension sets a powerful tone for the entire camp. The front office has pushed all its chips in on its current defensive core. The pressure is now on Watt to not only live up to his historic contract but to elevate the entire team and end its postseason victory drought.
The debate over T.J. Watt's contract will continue in bars and on talk radio for weeks, but the only thing that matters now is what happens on the grass in Latrobe. The Steelers have paid their superstar. Now, it's on him to prove he's worth every single penny and lead this team back to contention. The countdown to training camp is on.
