The Pittsburgh Steelers and T.J. Watt have reached a massive deal today, making him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history. Watt worked out a contract with the Steelers for a $123 million extension that includes a whopping $108 million guarantee, according to ESPN Insider Adam Schefter.
Watt was in the middle of a standoff with the Steelers after wanting a new contract that put him on par with some of the other top pass rushers in the league. Well, that happened today.
ESPN sources: Steelers star TJ Watt has become the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history for the second time in his illustrious career, reaching agreement today on a three-year, $123 million extension that includes $108M fully guaranteed at signing. The $41 million per year average… pic.twitter.com/si6V7FUdlp
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 17, 2025
T.J. Watt becomes the highest paid non-QB in NFL history
Watt was seeking a top-of-the-line deal, and now $41 million a year for the next three years, along with other incentives, is incredible. It surpasses all the other pass rushers that he was hoping to be above and on par with. The $41 million seems very deliberate as Myles Garret got a new contract that put him at $40 million a year.
You have to wonder if that was the holdup, as Watt is considered to be competing against Garrett as the top pass rusher in the NFL. The two of them are often leading the league in sacks and Defensive Player of the Year award voting. Watt may have been hoping for this exact scenario to be the top-paid defensive player in the NFL.
The $108 million guaranteed is the biggest guaranteed contract the Steelers have ever done, which means that Watt is breaking financial records all over the place. Now he will need to prove it on the field.
There are many detractors of Watt, saying that he is getting older and his production slipped last season, but the last time the Steelers gave him a huge deal, he had his best year ever. Could the same happen next year for the former Wisconsin Badger?