Author of the article:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Associated Press<\/p>\n
Will Graves<\/p>\n
Published Jul 17, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 3 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n PITTSBURGH \u2014 T.J. Watt has wanted to be a \u201cone-helmet guy\u201d from the second he arrived in Pittsburgh eight years ago.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authors<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The star outside linebacker took one big step toward that goal on Thursday, agreeing to a new pact that will make him the league\u2019s highest-paid defender and keep the perennial All-Pro in black-and gold well into his 30s.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Watt, who was entering the final season of the four-year extension he signed in 2021, is scheduled to make $123 million over the course of the three-year agreement, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the contract had not yet been made public.<\/p>\n ESPN first reported the extension.<\/p>\n Watt appeared to celebrate by making a rare Instagram post on Thursday afternoon, sharing a picture of him flexing in his signature No. 90 jersey. Watt also posted a photo in his Instagram stories of him posing alongside protege and third-year Steelers outside linebacker Nick Herbig.<\/p>\n Your Midday Sun<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The agreement\u2019s average annual value of $41 million eclipses the previous record contract for a defender set by Cleveland defensive lineman and reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett in March.<\/p>\n The annual average salary is also tick above what Bengals wide receiver Ja\u2019Marr Chase received when he (briefly) became the league\u2019s highest-paid non-quarterback a few days after Garrett agreed to terms with the Browns.<\/p>\n The fact that Watt\u2019s extension is worth 2.5% more per season than Garrett\u2019s (whose overall total value of $204 million is still higher than Watt\u2019s) is not a coincidence. Watt, the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year and a four-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler, has long believed he is the best edge rusher in the NFL.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n For the second time in four years, he\u2019s being paid like it, though he might not hold the distinction of being the league\u2019s highest-paid defender for long. Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons is also due for an extension that \u2014 given Parsons\u2019 age (26) and the league\u2019s ever-rising salary cap \u2014 figures to set the bar even higher.<\/p>\n Watt, who turns 31 in November, took the unusual step of skipping mandatory minicamp last month in hopes of putting pressure on Pittsburgh\u2019s front office to get something done. Head coach Mike Tomlin brushed off Watt\u2019s absence, saying it was only a matter of time before things worked themselves out.<\/p>\n The timing couldn\u2019t be better. The new-look Steelers \u2014 now led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers \u2014 report to training camp at Saint Vincent College next Wednesday.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n They\u2019ll do it with a familiar face in tow. Watt, who tied an NFL record by racking up 22 1\/2 sacks in 2021, is the linchpin of a defense that will be relied on heavily if the Steelers want to end a playoff drought that stretches to the 2016 AFC Championship, a few months before the Steelers selected Watt with the 30th overall pick in the 2017 draft.<\/p>\n While Watt is putting together a Hall-of-Fame worthy resume, the one thing he is lacking is any sort of postseason success. Watt\u2019s singular brilliance has helped keep the Steelers competitive during his tenure, Pittsburgh is winless in the postseason with Watt in the lineup, most of them losses in which the defense has struggled.<\/p>\n Watt, who has 108 sacks in 121 regular-season games, has just one in four playoff appearances.<\/p>\n The Steelers are taking a flyer on 2025 \u2014 signing Rodgers and trading for veteran defensive back Jalen Ramsey, among other notable moves \u2014 and are intent on trying to find their next franchise quarterback in the 2026 draft, which just so happens to be taking place in Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n The lack of star power under center, however, has given the team the financial flexibility to take care of Watt now, hoping he can remain an impact player into his mid-30s in the same way longtime teammate Cam Heyward has done.<\/p>\n RECOMMENDED VIDEO We apologize, but this video has failed to load.<\/p>\n Play Video<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Share this article in your social network<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Breadcrumb Trail Links FootballNFL Author of the article: Associated Press Will Graves Published Jul 17, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 3…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4175,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[436],"tags":[49,48,514,82],"class_list":["post-4174","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nfl","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-nfl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4174","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4174"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4174\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4175"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4174"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4174"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4174"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"T.J.](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SptsT10_TJWatt-scaled-e1700194204340.jpg\")
T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Photo by Justin Casterline \/Getty ImagesArticle content<\/p>\n![\"Toronto](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/19.1.4\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-tsun.svg\"){kind=logo}
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