T. J. Watt

On June 14, 2017, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Watt to a fully guaranteed, four-year, $9.25 million contract with a signing bonus of $4.87 million.[21][22][23]

He entered training camp competing with James Harrison for the starting right outside linebacker position. Watt was named the Pittsburgh Steelers' starting right outside linebacker to begin the regular season.[24] Watt saw action in the NFL for the first time in the team's first preseason game against the New York Giants, where he made two sacks in the 20–12 victory.[25]

External video
T. J. Watt Week 1 Highlights
Top 10 T. J. Watt plays of 2017
T. J. Watt puts game in ice with last second strip sack

Watt made his professional regular season debut and first NFL start in the Pittsburgh Steelers' season-opener against the Cleveland Browns on September 10, 2017, where he recorded seven combined tackles, two sacks, and intercepted a pass from quarterback DeShone Kizer, as the Steelers won by a score of 21–18.[26] He became the first rookie to start at linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers since Aaron Jones in 1988.[27] The following week, he assisted on two tackles before leaving during the first half of the Steelers' 26–9 victory over the Minnesota Vikings with a groin injury. He was declared out for week 3 against the Chicago Bears.[28] On October 22, 2017, Watt made six combined tackles and made his fourth sack of the season on Cincinnati Bengals' quarterback Andy Dalton during the Steelers' 29–14 victory.[29] He tied Bud Dupree (2014) and LaMarr Woodley (2007) for the franchise record for most sacks by a rookie with his fourth.[30] On December 10, 2017, Watt recorded his first career forced fumble when he sacked Baltimore Raven's quarterback Joe Flacco with 12 seconds remaining in the game.[31] The ball went out of bounds, but the game clock continued to run. Both teams seemed unaware of this until referees declared that the game was over. Watt finished his rookie season with 54 combined tackles (40 solo), seven pass deflections, seven sacks, one forced fumble, and an interception in 15 games and 15 starts.[32]

The Pittsburgh Steelers finished atop the AFC North with a 13–3 record and earned a playoff berth. On January 14, 2018, Watt started his first NFL playoff game and recorded two combined tackles and deflected a pass in a narrow 45–42 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC Divisional Round.[33]

Watt entered training camp slated as a starting left outside linebacker. Head coach Mike Tomlin named Watt and Bud Dupree, who was now on the right side, the starting outside linebackers to begin the season, alongside inside linebackers Vince Williams and Jon Bostic.[34]

External video
T. J. Watt strip sacks Ryan and Fort recovers for TD
Top 5 T. J. Watt plays vs. Browns in Week 1

Watt started in the season-opener at the Cleveland Browns and recorded a season-high ten combined tackles (seven solo), three sacks, and blocked a potential game-winning field goal during overtime in a 21–21 tie.[35] He earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance.[36] On October 7, 2018, Watt recorded eight combined tackles, tied his season-high of three sacks, and forced a fumble in the Steelers’ 41–17 win against the Atlanta Falcons. His performance earned him his second AFC Defensive Player of the Week award of the year.[37] He started in all 16 games in 2018 and recorded 68 combined tackles (50 solo), 13 sacks, six forced fumbles, and three pass deflections.[38] After the season, Watt was ranked 93rd on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2019.[39]

Watt playing for the Steelers in 2019.

In week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks, Watt recorded six tackles and made his first sack of the season on Russell Wilson in the 26–28 loss.[40] In week 3 against the San Francisco 49ers, Watt recorded his first interception of the season off Jimmy Garoppolo in the 24–20 loss.[41] In week 8 against the Miami Dolphins, Watt recorded two sacks on Ryan Fitzpatrick, one of which was a strip sack that he forced and recovered, in the 27–14 win.[42] For his performance in November, Watt earned AFC Defensive Player of the Month. In week 14 against the Arizona Cardinals, Watt recorded his second interception of the season in the end zone off a pass thrown by Kyler Murray during the 23–17 win.[43]

By the end of his third season, Watt had established himself as one of the best pass-rushers in the NFL, tallying an AFC-high 14.5 sacks and a league-high eight forced fumbles.[44] He was named to the Pro Bowl.[45] He was voted Team MVP by his teammates, being the first defensive player to win the award since Troy Polamalu in 2010. Watt was voted All-Pro as both edge rusher (1st Team) and linebacker (2nd Team).[46] He was also nominated for the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, finishing third in voting.[47] Following the season, Watt was ranked 25th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2020.[48]

On March 17, 2020, the Steelers signed Watt's older brother Derek, putting the two brothers on the same team.[49] On April 28, 2020, the Steelers exercised the fifth-year option on Watt's contract.[50]

In week 1 against the New York Giants, Watt recorded his lone interception of the season off a pass thrown by Daniel Jones during the 26–16 win.[51] In week 2 against the Denver Broncos, Watt recorded his first 2.5 sacks of the season on Jeff Driskel during the 26–21 win.[52] He was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in week 2.[53] On October 1, 2020, Watt was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Month for his performance in September.[54] In week 10 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Watt recorded two sacks on rookie quarterback Joe Burrow during the 36–10 win.[55] In week 12 against the Baltimore Ravens, Watt recorded two sacks on Robert Griffin III during the 19–14 win.[56] Watt was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Month for his performance in November.[57] In week 16 against the Indianapolis Colts, Watt recorded two sacks on Philip Rivers, including a strip sack that was recovered by teammate Mike Hilton, during the 28–24 comeback win.[58] On December 31, 2020, for the second straight season, Watt was voted Team MVP by his teammates.[59][60] Despite leading the NFL in sacks (15), tackles for loss (23) and quarterback hits (41),[61] he finished second in voting for the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.[62] Watt played in the Steelers lone playoff game, recording three combined tackles and deflected a pass as the Steelers lost to the Cleveland Browns 48–37 in the AFC Wild Card Round.[63] He earned Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro honors.[64][65] Prior to the upcoming season, Watt's peers voted him ninth on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2021.[66]

On September 9, 2021, Watt and the Steelers agreed to a four-year extension worth over $112 million with $80 million guaranteed, making him the highest paid defensive player in the NFL.[67] In week 1 against the Buffalo Bills, Watt made three tackles and two sacks on quarterback Josh Allen, one of which Watt also forced a fumble which was recovered by teammate Cameron Heyward in the 23–16 win.[68] The following week, Watt recorded four tackles, one sack and one forced fumble against the Las Vegas Raiders before leaving the game with a groin injury. He was later ruled out for week 3. In week 6 against the Seattle Seahawks, Watt played a large role in the 23–20 win in overtime, tallying seven total tackles, three tackles for loss, three passes defended, and two sacks, one of which was a strip sack in overtime that led to the game-winning field goal.[69] He was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in week 6.[70] In week 13, Watt was a huge factor in helping the Steelers defeat the Baltimore Ravens, 20–19. He had six combined tackles (five solo), 3.5 sacks, three tackles for loss, six quarterback hits and a forced fumble.[71] With 12 seconds remaining in the game and the Steelers ahead by one point, the Ravens attempted a 2-point conversion for the win. Watt was able to put pressure on Lamar Jackson and disrupt the pass, sealing the victory for his team.[72] His performance earned him AFC Defensive Player of the Week.[73] In the Steelers’ 19–13 win over the Tennessee Titans in week 15, Watt recorded 1.5 sacks on quarterback Ryan Tannehill.[74] This gave Watt a total of 17.5 sacks on the season, a franchise record, surpassing the mark previously set by James Harrison in 2008.[75] In week 17, Watt earned his third AFC Defensive Player of the Week for the year, in a victory over the Cleveland Browns, 26–14. In this game, Watt recorded five tackles (all solo), four sacks, three tackles for loss, five quarterback hits and two passes defended.[76] On January 6, 2022, the Steelers named Watt their Team MVP. He became the only player in team history to win the award in three-straight seasons. In week 18, Watt tied Michael Strahan's 20-year old NFL single-season sack record, with a sack of Baltimore's Tyler Huntley during their 16–13 overtime win.[77] Despite missing two games and parts of three others, Watt ended the regular season leading the league in sacks (22.5), tackles for loss (21) and quarterback hits (39) for the second year in a row.[78][79][80] He was named to the Pro Bowl and earned First Team All-Pro honors.[81][82]

In the AFC Wild Card Round against the Kansas City Chiefs, Watt recovered a fumble forced by teammate Cameron Heyward and returned it 26 yards for a touchdown in the first half of the 42–21 loss.[83]

At the 11th Annual NFL Honors, Watt won NFL Defensive Player of the Year.[84] He was ranked sixth by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2022.[85]

In week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Watt left the game in the fourth quarter with a torn pectoral muscle during the 23–20 overtime win, after attempting to sack quarterback Joe Burrow.[86] He was placed on injured reserve. [87]

On October 8, it was reported that Watt had recently undergone arthroscopic knee surgery for an injury sustained in the preseason.[88] On October 26, the Steelers opened the 21-day practice window for Watt's return.[89] He was activated from injured reserve on November 11, 2022.[90]

He finished the 2022 season with 39 tackles, two interceptions, one forced fumble, and a career low 5.5 sacks in 10 games played. Despite this, Watt was voted to his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl. After the season, Watt was ranked 27th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2023.

In week 1, a 30–7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Watt would be one of the few positives for the Steelers as he sacked 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy three times, two of which resulted in forced fumbles. In addition, his three sacks brought his career total to 80.5, tying the Steelers franchise record set by James Harrison.[91] In week 2, Watt broke Harrison's franchise sack record by sacking Deshaun Watson to bring his career total to 81.5. Watt later recovered a Watson fumble forced by teammate Alex Highsmith and returned it 16 yards for the game-winning touchdown in the 26–22 victory over the Cleveland Browns.[92] For his strong performance in the first 3 games of the season, Watt was named AFC Defensive Player of the Month for September.[93]