TJ Watt contract: NFL insider details where negotiations stand between All-Pro OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers

The first piece of business for the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason was to sign quarterback Aaron Rodgers. That deal is done. Now, it’s time for Pittsburgh to come to terms on a new deal with outside linebacker TJ Watt.

Watt did not attend mandatory minicamp last week as he seeks a contract extension. Watt is one of several pass rushers looking to get paid this offseason. Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby signed lucrative contract extensions, but Watt, Micah Parsons and Trey Hendrickson remain without a long-term contract. ESPN‘s Peter Schrager said on Tuesday’s “Pat McAfee Show” that both the Steelers and Watt are “motivated to get something done” before training camp opens next month.

NFL insider predicts game of chicken between TJ Watt, Micah Parsons

"I know the Steelers and TJ Watt are motivated to get a deal done..

From what I'm told both sides want it to get done"@PSchrags #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/TzxjECHg6W

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 17, 2025

“I know both sides are really motivated to get something done here,” Schrager said. “They don’t want to go into training camp and have this thing drag on. The Rodgers domino fell. DeShon Elliott is a nice player to have, but this was always going to be let’s get Rodgers in camp and I think the TJ Watt deal has to get done. Now, from what I’m told, both sides want it to get done. Obviously, TJ Watt wants a certain amount of money. The question is, OK, is it a game of chicken where TJ Watt takes a deal the Steelers offer and then a week later, Micah Parsons blows his deal out of the water and we’re in the same place as we were beforehand.

“It’s always interesting to see when you’re talking top of the market guys, who is going to take that offer first, who’s motivated to get it done first and who’s willing to wait it out. Often, we deal with the quarterbacks this way but now with the pass rushers and what Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby got this offseason, you’re dealing with TJ Watt and Micah Parsons, who both believe they should be top of the market, too. Who gets their deal first, who agrees to their deal first, could really be a game of chicken between those two guys more so than the team versus player.”

TJ Watt skips mandatory minicamp amid contract dispute

By skipping mandatory minicamp, Watt was subject to a $17,462 fine on Day 1, $34,925 on Day 2 and $52,381 on Day 3. That’s $104,768 in fines. Watt, 30, is entering the final year of the four-year, $112 million deal he signed in 2021. He held in at training camp before signing his deal three days before the start of the season.

Watt wants another long-term deal as he continues playing into his 30s. Watt has led the NFL in sacks in three of the past five seasons. He tallied 22.5 sacks in 2021, tying Michael Strahan‘s record for most sacks in a single season. Watt has 108 sacks in eight seasons, fourth all-time among active players. He’s a four-time First-Team All-Pro selection and the 2021 AP Defensive Player of the Year.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, obviously, wants his star defender back. He has no timetable when a deal will get done, however.

“I’m not going to get into speculation there,” Tomlin said last week. “I’m optimistic we’re going to get things done because we got two sides that want to get things done. When that’s going to occur, I do not know.”