JJ Watt Sparks Wild Speculation About TJ Watt's Future With The Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers star pass rusher TJ Watt has been one of the main bright spots within the team during their playoff drought. TJ had another great season in 2024, but he got hurt against the Philadelphia Eagles, and it appeared that injury lingered the rest of the way. 

Despite this, he continued to play through the pain, showcasing his determination to help his team overcome extreme adversity. While his usual splash plays slowed down, TJ still made a significant impact on defense, proving his resilience and commitment to the Steelers.

However, the lingering injury seemed to affect his ability to dominate games in the same way he usually does. Fans could see that TJ wasn’t quite as disruptive as he had been in previous seasons, and it was clear that something was off. Despite the setbacks, TJ pushed through, fighting to make plays and lead the Steelers’ defense in a challenging season. His presence, even when not at his peak, was still crucial to the team’s efforts as they battled toward the finish line.

With TJ entering the final year of his contract in 2025, questions about his future with the Steelers loom large. His brother, JJ Watt, addressed the situation on Wednesday’s episode of The Pat McAfee Show, dropping a cryptic hint about TJ’s future. 

"No, I mean there’s only one left," JJ said. "He will be a free agent after this 2025 season. A true free agent. I mean do you ever go into the last year of a contract? I don’t know of many people who go into the last year of a contract like that."

While the details were vague, it was clear that TJ’s desire to compete for Super Bowls is strong, and despite his love for Pittsburgh, the uncertainty surrounding his contract could lead to major decisions about his career in the coming year. TJ has been a star in Pittsburgh and will go down as one of the greatest players ever in their storied history. 

It’s unlikely the Steelers will let TJ finish his career elsewhere, given his importance to the team and his deep ties to Pittsburgh. However, in the unpredictable world of the NFL, anything is possible. TJ will likely command a hefty extension, and as Tone Digz shouted during JJ's appearance, an extension seems almost certain. 

But there’s still uncertainty, as some believe the Steelers might need to shift toward a younger defensive core. In fact, some have even floated the wild idea of trading TJ, though that scenario seems far-fetched. It could be a real possibility as Mike Tomlin stated some major changes have to happen.

Similar to Cam Heyward in the 2024 offseason, TJ will likely want to secure his future before the season begins. The Steelers have a policy of not negotiating during the season, so if they allow TJ to play out the final year of his contract, it could be a bold move, possibly signaling they’re open to parting ways with their star pass rusher.

Steelers' TJ Watt Going To Make Some Changes Personally

Most Steelers fans believe TJ will get extended and finish his career in Pittsburgh, especially considering the impact he’s had on the defense. However, the way he was shut down toward the end of the 2024 season raised some concerns. 

TJ acknowledged the challenges he faced and vowed to make major adjustments to counter the tactics offenses used to slow him down. His performance was clearly affected by the injury he was playing through, but even with that limitation, opposing offenses seemed to find ways to neutralize him.

JJ's cryptic comments didn’t explicitly indicate TJ’s departure from Pittsburgh, but they’ve certainly fueled speculation about his future. TJ himself has made it clear that he doesn’t want to play for anyone other than Tomlin, leading many fans to believe he will stay in Pittsburgh for the long haul and finish his career in the Steel City.

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