Let's just be honest for a second. If you aren't a fan of the Black and Gold, you probably spend a lot of time trying to find reasons why TJ Watt Pittsburgh Steelers star and general nightmare for quarterbacks, isn't actually that good. You talk about "high-quality sacks" versus "unblocked sacks." You bring up PFF grades or double-team rates.
But then you watch the tape.
You see a 6-foot-4, 250-pound guy basically telepathically knowing when a snap is coming. It's weird. It’s almost like he’s playing the game two seconds ahead of everyone else. By the time the right tackle has even set his feet, Watt is already dipping that shoulder, turning the corner, and reaching for the ball. He doesn't just want the sack. He wants the rock.
The Family Business and Passing JJ
For years, TJ was "the little brother." That’s a heavy shadow when your brother is J.J. Watt—a guy who basically lived in the backfield and has three Defensive Player of the Year trophies on his mantle. But something shifted recently. In late 2025, during a game against the Chicago Bears, TJ strip-sacked Caleb Williams.
That play was historic.
It was his 115th career sack. With that one hit, he officially moved past his brother J.J. on the all-time list. Think about that. J.J. is a first-ballot Hall of Famer, and TJ passed him in fewer games.
The stats are honestly getting ridiculous at this point. As we head into 2026, TJ sits with 115.0 career sacks, 36 forced fumbles, and 9 interceptions. Most edge rushers go their whole lives without 9 picks. Watt does it while also being the only player in NFL history to lead the league in sacks in three different seasons (2020, 2021, and 2023).
Why the 2025 Season Felt Different
Last year was a bit of a roller coaster. If you looked at the box scores, you might have thought he was slowing down. He "only" had 7 sacks in 14 games. People started whispering. Is he hitting the wall? Is 31 the age where the wheels come off?
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Not exactly.
The guy had surgery to repair a partially collapsed lung mid-season. Yeah, you read that right. He was in a Pittsburgh hospital evaluating a lung issue, had a procedure, and was back on the field shortly after to help the Steelers beat the Ravens in Week 18. That’s not normal.
He still finished 2025 with:
- 55 total tackles
- 2 interceptions (including a clutch one against Baltimore)
- 3 forced fumbles
- 8 pass defenses
He’s doing more than just rushing the passer. He’s essentially a defensive coordinator on the field. When Patrick Queen arrived in Pittsburgh, you could see Watt's influence immediately. He’s coaching up the young guys like Nick Herbig while still demanding that every single person on that unit plays with a specific kind of violence.
The $123 Million Question
The Steelers aren't exactly known for breaking the bank for older players. They have "The Steeler Way," which usually involves letting guys walk a year too early rather than a year too late. But with TJ Watt Pittsburgh Steelers management knew they couldn't let him go.
In July 2025, he signed a massive three-year, $123 million extension.
That deal pays him $41 million a year. It made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the history of the league at the time. His cap hit for 2026 is a whopping $42 million. That is a lot of money for a guy on the wrong side of 30, but if you take him off this defense, the whole thing collapses.
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The Steelers’ record with TJ Watt versus without him is a stat that gets cited a lot because it's so jarring. Basically, when he doesn't play, they struggle to win games. Period. He is the win condition.
The Technical Art of the Strip-Sack
What makes him better than Myles Garrett or Micah Parsons? It depends on who you ask, but the "Watt Sauce" is the finish.
Most guys are happy to just get the quarterback on the ground. TJ doesn't care about the tackle. He is hunting the wrist. If you watch his hands, he uses a "cross-chop" move that is so fast the broadcast cameras sometimes miss it. He’s looking for that split second where the QB starts his throwing motion.
Pop. The ball is on the turf.
He led the league in forced fumbles again in 2024 with six. He just has a knack for it. It's a combination of film study—knowing exactly how a quarterback holds the ball—and a wingspan that seems to grow an extra six inches when he's closing in.
What Most People Get Wrong
There’s this narrative that he gets "garbage" sacks. People say he just cleans up what others start. Honestly, it's a lazy take.
Teams are literally designing their entire offense to stop him. They chip him with a tight end. They have the running back stay in to block. They slide the entire offensive line his way. And yet, he still produces. In 2024, even while dealing with a nagging injury, he had 19 tackles for loss. That was second in the NFL.
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He isn't just a pass-rush specialist. He’s one of the best run-stopping edges in the game. He plays the "heavy" side and doesn't get washed out of plays.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The goal now isn't just more sacks. It’s a ring.
Watt has been vocal about the fact that he hasn't won a playoff game yet. For a guy with his resume, that’s the one glaring hole. The Steelers fell to the Texans in the Wild Card round last year, a game where TJ was still recovery-mode from that lung issue.
He’s entering 2026 healthy. The contract is settled. The legacy is mostly secure. But for TJ, "mostly" isn't enough.
If you're looking to track his progress this season, keep an eye on these specific milestones:
- The 125-Sack Club: He’s only 10 away. Only a handful of players have ever reached that mark as fast as he will.
- DPOY Race: After being a finalist five times and winning once (2021), he’s always in the hunt. If he stays healthy for 17 games, he's the favorite.
- Playoff Impact: Watch how the Steelers rotate Herbig and Highsmith to keep Watt fresh for the fourth quarter. That’s been the secret to his late-game heroics.
The window for the TJ Watt Pittsburgh Steelers era won't stay open forever. But right now? He’s still the baddest man on the field.
If you're following the Steelers this season, pay close attention to the Week 1 tape. Watch his first step. If he’s still exploding off that line like he did in 2021, the rest of the AFC North is in serious trouble. You can check the latest injury reports and practice clips on the official team site to see if that mid-season surgery from last year is truly a thing of the past. It looks like it is.