On September 9, 2021, Mike Tomlin‘s Steelers made T.J. Watt the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL. But that payday came only after a dramatic standoff—one where Watt reportedly bypassed his own agents, walked into Art Rooney II’s office, and told him he was signing the deal as-is. That moment became folklore in Pittsburgh. But fast-forward to 2025, and it’s déjà vu. Another contract standoff. Another icon waiting for respect. Only this time, the numbers have changed—and so has the urgency.
According to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Ray Fittipaldo, it’s not about years. It’s about guarantees. “It’s going to be about the guaranteed money,” Fittipaldo said this week, making it clear that Watt’s next deal will be measured against the $160 million extension Myles Garrett just inked in Cleveland—with a massive $122.8 million guaranteed. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ reported $120 million offer over three years? Just pocket change compared to the real game being played.
Watt’s current deal? A 4-year, $112M extension signed in 2021, with $80M guaranteed. His 2025 cap hit sits at $30.4M, but he becomes a free agent in 2026—and the Steelers know if he walks, the foundation of their defense crumbles. Watt isn’t just the Steelers’ defensive backbone; he’s a walking cheat code. With 108 career sacks (second-fastest to 100 ever), 33 forced fumbles, and a 2024 season where he led the NFL with six strips, the man’s résumé reads like a Ubisoft glitch.
Yet, whispers of decline linger after an 11.5-sack year—his worst since 2020. Critics argue Pittsburgh should trade him. Fans? They’re split like a zone defense. But letting Watt walk would be like trading away a Super Bowl blueprint mid-build. “The Steelers likely have to surpass what Garrett got,” Fittipaldo warned. Translation: $125 M+ guaranteed, or bust.
Let’s break it down like a QB sneak: Watt’s current deal ($21.05 M base, $30.4 M cap hit) expires after 2025. Garrett’s $40 M/year contract looms like a highlight reel on loop. For Steelers GM Omar Khan, this isn’t just negotiation—it’s therapy. Pay Watt $40 M+ annually, or watch Cleveland’s D-line smirk all the way to the playoffs.
Category
T.J. Watt
Myles Garrett
Team
Pittsburgh Steelers
Cleveland Browns
Contract Status
4-year, $112 million extension signed in 2021
4-year, $160 million extension signed in 2025
Average Annual Value
$28 million
$40 million (briefly the highest for a non-QB in NFL history)
Total Guaranteed
$80 million
$122.8 million
Free Agent Year
2026
2031
2025 Cap Hit
$30.4 million
$19.7 million
2025 Base Salary
$21.05 million
$1.255 million
Notable Clauses
No trade clause
Full no-trade clause
Contract Disputes
Ongoing standoff over extension
Resolved prior trade request with record-setting extension
Then there’s the other half of the Steelers’ offseason drama: Aaron Rodgers. The future Hall of Famer is reportedly “verbally committed” to joining Pittsburgh on a one-year, $10 million deal. That’s right—a four-time MVP on a discount, potentially suiting up at Acrisure.
Mike Tomlin’s phone buzzes with a Green Bay area code
Meanwhile, in a twist ripped from Ballers, Mike Tomlin’s burner phone lit up this spring. On the line? Aaron Rodgers, fresh off a Jets implosion and wrestling with demons heavier than a blitzing nose tackle. “I’ve been upfront with them… If you need to move on, by all means,” Rodgers admitted, but here’s the plot twist: despite the chaos, sources say he has verbally committed to Pittsburgh, with plans to suit up for training camp.
Why the Steelers? It’s not just about the Terrible Towels or the Rooney mystique. Tomlin’s rep as a player’s coach—think Bill Belichick’s IQ with a DJ Khaled vibe—has Rodgers hooked. “He’s probably the best of a lot of cheap options in terms of his mastery of the game combined with the ability to still do some of what he used to physically,” the Post-Gazette’s Brian Batko noted, highlighting Rodgers’ pre-snap wizardry and the freedom Tomlin’s offering. Think of it this way: Rodgers isn’t joining to coast—he’s joining to win.
So, here’s the Steelers’ equation: retain T.J. Watt with a $160M+ extension and land Aaron Rodgers on a short-term deal. Easy, right? Lose Watt, and the defense folds. Miss on Rodgers, and the offense sputters again. Nail both? Suddenly, the AFC North is in play—and a deep playoff run doesn’t feel like fantasy.
Pittsburgh hasn’t lifted the Lombardi since 2008. But if Omar Khan pulls this off, Mike Tomlin could find himself coaching the most balanced and dangerous Steelers team of the post-Roethlisberger era. Training camp is around the corner. The pressure’s on. And in true Pittsburgh fashion, the margin for error is razor-thin.
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