TJ Watt ends Steelers contract drama with record-breaking $123 million deal
By Christian Arnold
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T.J. Watt is now the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
The Steelers’ star linebacker agreed to a three-year, $123 million contract extension with Pittsburgh on Thursday, according to multiple reports.
The deal includes Watt being fully guaranteed $108 million at signing and the AAV of $41 million makes it the highest deal for any non-QB position player in NFL history, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported.
Steelers star TJ Watt has agreed to a three-year, $123 million contract extension.
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The ESPN insider had also reported that the deal had been in the works for months before it was agreed upon on Thursday, roughly a week before the Steelers kick off training camp.
There had been uncertainty about Watt’s future with the team, with the seven-time Pro Bowler having sat out of mandatory minicamp in June due to the contract dispute.
It had been previously reported that Watt had wanted to become the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league’s history, with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac saying as much as recently as earlier this month on “The Rich Eisen Show.”
TJ Watt reacts during a Steelers game in November 2024.
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Watt has seven double-digit sack seasons since he came into the NFL in 2017 and has the most sacks — 108 — in that span.
He tied Michael Strahan’s single-season sacks record of 22.5 in 2021.
The edge rusher was spotted seemingly working out with fellow teammate Nick Herbig in an Instagram Story post on Thursday earlier in the day.
Watt had the support of his teammates for the team to get some sort of deal done, with Cam Heyward jokingly saying on “The Rich Eisen Show” earlier this week that he would tell general manager Omar Khan “that’s not happening” if the Steelers thought of trading Watt.
“I want [Watt] to get paid what he deserves,” Heyward added. “That dude is one of the most fierce and best players in our league. And he’s respected throughout the league. I’ve had the best time being able to play with him, and I hope this year is not the last time we play together, because that dude, that’s my running mate, and we create a lot of havoc together. And I just want to see that guy continue to be a Pittsburgh Steeler, and be a one-helmet guy.”
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