A Pittsburgh Steelers insider provided context regarding T.J. Watt’s apparent frustration with the front office. The star pass rusher turned heads on Wednesday when he posted a picture on Instagram of him making a peace symbol.
The obvious worry from fans was that Watt was signaling “peace out” before leaving the organization. Watt enters 2025 on the final year of his contract, and the six-time All-Pro wants a raise in the same offseason Maxx Crosby and Myles Garrett received contract extensions.
On Thursday morning, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network suggested the Steelers and Watt were not in a good place when the picture was posted.
T.J. Watt was upset by a recent report
Per Andrew Fillipponi of 93.7 The Fan, Watt feels disrespected by a report that claims the Steelers don’t believe Watt is deserving of a deal like the one the Cleveland Browns gave Garrett at $40 million per year.
“Apparently there was a media report out there in the last two weeks that the Steelers want T.J. Watt to sign a contract extension, but they don’t want to pay Miles Garrett money, Fillipponi said. “There was a media report out there. I don’t know from who? I don’t know if it was on our station.
“I don’t know where it happened, but that’s how it was described to me, that somebody, it was either Steelers media or national media said, “Yeah, the Steelers are gonna keep T.J. Watt around, but it’s not gonna be for Miles Garrett money.’ Somebody said that and it got back to T.J. Watt and Watt’s cryptic IG post is like basically saying, ‘That’s not happening. You’re not going to get me for less than I think I’m worth.'”
Did the Pittsburgh Steelers make a mistake?
Fillipponi thinks there is some credence to the story because of how Watt’s brother, J.J. Watt described conversations between T.J. and the Steelers last offseason.
T.J. was willing to give Pittsburgh a “hometown” discount at the time, but the Steelers refused because their policy is not to extend non-quarterbacks with two seasons remaining on their contracts.
T.J. recorded 19 sacks in 2023. He finished with 11.5 in 2024.
Following 30.5 sacks in two seasons, the Steelers might have to pay market prices.
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