Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers may have a big problem in one of their highest-paid players.
The Pittsburgh Steelers made linebacker T.J. Watt one of the highest-paid defenders in the NFL this offseason. However, the four-time first-team All-Pro hasn’t been playing up to his new deal this season.
The Steelers’ 26-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 13 was the fifth time this season that Watt has recorded two or fewer pressures, according to Marcus Mosher of FanSided. Watt had just one pressure, which came on a play he was unblocked, per NextGenStats.
Sunday was the fifth time this season #Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt has recorded two or fewer pressures.
He recorded just one pressure (unblocked) per @NextGenStats
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) December 1, 2025
Watt, 31, signed a three-year, $123 million extension that pays him an average of $41 million per season and runs all the way through the 2027 season.
At the time, Pittsburgh was simply paying Watt what he was worth after racking up 129 tackles, 30.5 sacks, 10 forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, 12 passes defensed and one interception over the past two years.
However, Watt is now on pace to have the worst season of his professional career, outside of his rookie season and 2022 when he was limited to just 10 games due to injury.
It’s unclear what that means for his future in Pittsburgh, but the team cannot continue paying him what it is if he continues to perform at the level he has this season.
Watt’s contract is fully guaranteed through 2027, so he would have to agreed to a pay cut or be traded. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk shared the full details of Watt’s historic contract this offseason.
1. Signing bonus: $40 million.
2. 2025 base salary: $4 million, fully guaranteed.
3. 2026 base salary: $32 million, fully guaranteed.
4. 2027 base salary: $32 million, fully guaranteed.
5. 2028 offseason roster bonus: $15 million, due on the third day of the league year.
6. 2028 base salary: $21.05 million.
There’s still time for Watt to turn things around if he hopes to stick with the Steelers, but Father Time seems to be catching up to one of the best players in the league.
A first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Watt has recorded 509 tackles, 115 sacks, 36 forced fumbles, 14 fumble recoveries, 57 passes defensed and eight interceptions in his NFL career.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: T.J. Watt Continues to Disappoint on Steelers’ Slide
