T.J. Watt and the Pittsburgh Steelers have finalized a landmark three-year, $123 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. The deal, which includes $108 million fully guaranteed at signing, was completed just days before players report to training camp on July 23.
The agreement concludes a period of negotiation during which Watt abstained from both voluntary and mandatory offseason minicamps.
A first-round pick by the Steelers in the 2017 draft, the 30-year-old pass-rusher has become one of the franchise’s most decorated players. In his eight seasons, Watt has earned seven Pro Bowl selections and five All-Pro honors, including four first-team selections. He was named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 and has finished in the top four of voting for the award five times.
Watt’s on-field production has been consistently dominant. He has led the league in sacks three times, and his 22.5 sacks in 2021 tied the official single-season record. His career totals include 108 sacks, 225 quarterback hits, 33 forced fumbles, and seven interceptions.
Despite entering his age-31 season, Watt continues to perform at an elite level, recording 11.5 sacks and a league-best six forced fumbles during the 2023 campaign. He has also demonstrated remarkable durability, playing in 15 or more games in seven of his eight seasons. Even after a pectoral tear limited him to 10 games in 2022, he still secured a Pro Bowl nomination.
The new contract, which replaces the final year of his previous extension, establishes a new benchmark for elite defensive players awaiting their own paydays, such as Dallas’ Micah Parsons and Cincinnati’s Trey Hendrickson.
This extension is the latest in a series of major moves by the Steelers’ front office, led by General Manager Omar Khan. The team’s aggressive offseason has also included signing veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, trading for wide receiver DK Metcalf and cornerback Jalen Ramsey, and parting ways with wideout George Pickens and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
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