Former DPOY whose 2025 sack total dropped to seven, but who still leads the Steelers' pass rush at 31.
T.J. Watt's 2025 season was the quietest of his career. Seven regular-season sacks, well below his career average of 14 per year. He still posted 55 tackles, two interceptions, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries across 14 games. The drop in sack production was the talk of Pittsburgh all season, but the franchise sees no path forward without him.
Path to the league
Wisconsin Badger whose older brothers J.J. and Derek shaped his football life. Steelers took him 30th overall in 2017. Recorded 7 sacks as a rookie and at least 10 in every season since (except an injury-shortened 2022). 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year with 22.5 sacks, tying Michael Strahan's then-record.
Career highlights
2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Two-time DPOY runner-up (2020, 2023). Seven-time Pro Bowler. Three-time first-team All-Pro. 115 career sacks across eight seasons (top 30 all time). Steelers' single-season sack record (22.5).
2025 season recap
7 sacks, 55 tackles, 2 INTs, 8 pass defenses, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries. Watt's pressure rate per former teammates dropped because Pittsburgh's interior defensive line failed to push the pocket. Signed a three-year, $123 million extension on July 22, 2025 that briefly made him the highest-paid non-QB before Parsons surpassed him five weeks later.
What to watch in 2026
Watt turns 32 in October and is on his contract through 2027. Myles Garrett took his sack record in 2025 with 23, which probably motivates more than any extension dollar figure. Pittsburgh added defensive line depth in the draft. The 2026 question is whether Watt can return to a 14-sack baseline now that the interior is healthier.
Sources
- Wikipedia: T. J. Watt
- NFL.com: Watt's record extension
- Pro Football Reference: T.J. Watt
Statistics
2025 season and career2025 Season · Defense
14 games played▶Defense · career
| Year | Team | GP | TOT | SOLO | SACK | INT | FF | FR | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | steelers | 14 | 55 | 23 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 8 |
| 2024 | steelers | 17 | 61 | 40 | 11.5 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 4 |
| 2023 | steelers | 17 | 68 | 48 | 19 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 8 |
| 2022 | steelers | 10 | 39 | 27 | 5.5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 2021 | steelers | 15 | 64 | 48 | 22.5 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 7 |
| 2020 | steelers | 15 | 53 | 43 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| 2019 | steelers | 16 | 55 | 35 | 14.5 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 8 |
| 2018 | steelers | 16 | 68 | 50 | 13 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| 2017 | steelers | 15 | 54 | 40 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Linebacker
- Group
- defense
- College
- Wisconsin
- Hometown
- Pewaukee, WI, USA
- Age
- 31
- Status
- active
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