The Pittsburgh Steelers welcomed TJ Watt to their team when they picked him in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Since then, Watt has established himself as one of the NFL's premier players. He is on track to be remembered as one of the greatest players in both Pittsburgh and NFL history. Over his seven seasons with the Steelers, Watt has amassed 96.5 sacks, 401 combined tackles, 27 forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries, 45 passes defended, and seven interceptions.
NBC Sports
Steelers star TJ Watt celebrates after a big play.
Watt's career has been marked by dominance, with the only blemish being the absence of a playoff win—something that is not his fault. Many credit Watt for keeping Pittsburgh competitive despite the team's offensive struggles in recent seasons. He is undoubtedly the MVP of the Steelers; in regular season games where Watt couldn't play, Pittsburgh has won just one game and lost 10. This stark contrast highlights Watt's incredible impact during his career in Pittsburgh.
Now entering the later years of his prime, Watt faces the reality of the NFL's short-lived careers. At 29 years old, soon to be 30, he has started to feel the toll of his career, reminiscent of his brother JJ Watt, who retired at 33 after battling injuries despite being one of the greatest defensive players ever. This has led Pittsburgh fans to wonder how much longer Watt will play.
However, Outside Linebackers Coach Denzel Martin, in an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette during minicamp, expressed confidence that Watt isn't showing any signs of retiring soon. Martin believes Watt is far from following in his brother's footsteps and stepping away from the game.
"That guy there, man, I don't ever see him stopping. Football lovers like him, I just don't ever see it. I don't know when it's gonna stop. His love for football would have to die. And y'all know him like I do. That ain't dying.”
Watt has a profound love for the game of football, leading Martin to believe he will continue playing for several more seasons. The only way Watt would retire around the same age as his brother is if injuries start to pile up and his body physically can't continue.
It's no secret that Watt has never won a playoff game. Pittsburgh's last postseason victory was in the 2016 season, and Watt, drafted after that, is determined to get his first playoff win in the 2024 season. Martin detailed the sense of urgency that the entire team is feeling in regards to ending their playoff drought.
"It's not something that he's out there saying," Martin said. "Everybody wants it, you know what I mean? It stems from everybody. Everybody wants to win in the playoffs. It's not something we're trying not to do. It's something that we're always constantly thinking about, every day. It's something we've got to do. We know we need postseason success, and that's what we're gonna keep working towards.”
The entire team feels the urgency of ending the playoff drought in 2024, and the organization shares this sentiment. This offseason, Pittsburgh has been more aggressive than ever in fixing its roster, aiming to give the team the best odds to get back in the Super Bowl hunt.
In Pittsburgh, fans expect to compete for Super Bowls every season, but the team has not lived up to that standard recently.
Steelers Are Running The Risk Of Failing TJ Watt
It would be a major failure for the organization if Watt plays his entire career in Pittsburgh without winning a Super Bowl. To reach that point, Pittsburgh must first end their playoff drought. The 2024 season is set up for Pittsburgh to have a great shot at being a surprisingly strong team.
Associated Press
Steelers' TJ Watt walks off the field after a game.
They have made upgrades at every position except wide receiver. With new personnel, hungry players eager to end the playoff drought, and improved quarterback play, hopes are high that Pittsburgh can shock football fans in the upcoming season and make a run at the Super Bowl. If Pittsburgh does not hurry and get some postseason success, they run a very serious risk of failing Watt.
#SteelerNation
