TJ Watt and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday agreed to a historic three-year, $123 million contract extension, making the edge rusher the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported, citing sources.
The deal has, however, brought up several questions about Watt’s age and injury concerns.
The edge rusher and the Steelers signed the extension after months of uncertainty around his future. The team management was clear – they wanted to keep Watt, but speculation peaked after the Pro Bowl star skipped mandatory minicamp.
The deal ensures $108 million fully guaranteed at signing, and the $41 million average per year tops the $40 million APY, ESPN added.
Concerns around age and injuries
Born October 11, 1994, Watt is 30 years old and will turn 31 during the 2025 season. As he enters his ninth NFL season, his age is a focal point, as edge rushers rarely maintain elite production past their early 30s.
TJ Watt has shown durability, playing all 17 games in 2023 and 2024, but past injuries raise flags. In 2022, a pectoral injury limited him to 10 games (5.5 sacks), and in 2023, a Grade 2 MCL sprain in Week 18 caused him to miss the postseason.
In 2024, reporter Melanie Collins confirmed that Watt had been dealing with an injury to his right thumb. The 30-year-old recorded 11.5 sacks, his lowest in a full season since 2017, with no sacks in his final four games.
At 31, durability questions linger, as analysts like Gary Davenport note Watt’s ‘injury history’ and late-2024 fade could impact long-term value.
“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. And last season was the worst of his career. Should’ve just traded him,” one fan noted on X, platform formerly known as Twitter.