T.J. Watt

Pittsburgh Steelers, Outside Linebacker
Age: 31y-4m-25d (Oct 11, 1994)
Exp: 9 Years
Country: US
College: Wisconsin
Drafted: Round 1 (#30 overall), 2017
Agent(s): John Caplin, Patrick Collins, Tom Condon, RJ Gonser, Jimmy Sexton (CAA Football)
2026 Cap Hit

$42,000,000

2026 Cash

$32,000,000

Career Earnings

$154,902,038

2025-2028 Extension (CURRENT)

T.J. Watt signed a 3 year, $123,000,000 contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, including $40,000,000 signing bonus, $108,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $41,000,000. In 2026, Watt will earn a base salary of $32,000,000, while carrying a cap hit of $42,000,000 and a dead cap value of $94,000,000.
Contract Terms:
3 yr(s) / $123,000,000
Average Salary:
$41,000,000
Signing Bonus:
$40,000,000
GTD at Sign:
$108,000,000
Total GTD:
$108,000,000
Free Agent:
2029 / UFA
MANAGE CONTRACT
Year Age Cap HitAnnual Cap % League Cap Cash Annual Cash Cumulative Dead Cap Annual
2025 31 $23,368,694 8.37% $44,000,000 $44,000,000 $53,368,694
2026 32 $42,000,000 13.84% $32,000,000 $76,000,000 $94,000,000
2027 33 $42,000,000 13.18% $32,000,000 $108,000,000 $52,000,000
POTENTIAL OUT: 2028, 3 YR, $108,000,000; $10,000,000 DEAD CAP
2028 34 $46,050,000 13.76% $36,050,000 $144,050,000 $10,000,000
2029 35
UFA
Year Age Base P5 Salary Signing Proration Restructure Proration Roster Bonus Cap Hit Cap % League Dead Cap
2025 31 $4,000,000 $17,118,694 $2,250,000 - $23,368,694 8.37% $53,368,694
2026 32 $32,000,000 $10,000,000 - - $42,000,000 13.84% $94,000,000
2027 33 $32,000,000 $10,000,000 - - $42,000,000 13.18% $52,000,000
POTENTIAL OUT: 2028, 3 YR, $108,000,000; $10,000,000 DEAD CAP
2028 34 $21,050,000 $10,000,000 - $15,000,000 $46,050,000 13.76% $10,000,000
2029 35
UFA
Year Age Base P5 Salary Signing Bonus Roster Bonus Cash Total Cash Cumulative Cash Remaining
2025 31 $4,000,000 $40,000,000 - $44,000,000 $44,000,000 $144,050,000
2026 32 $32,000,000 - - $32,000,000 $76,000,000 $100,050,000
2027 33 $32,000,000 - - $32,000,000 $108,000,000 $68,050,000
POTENTIAL OUT: 2028, 3 YR, $108,000,000; $10,000,000 DEAD CAP
2028 34 $21,050,000 - $15,000,000 $36,050,000 $144,050,000 $36,050,000
Contract Notes

  • $108M guaranteed at signing (signing bonus + 2025 salary + 2026 salary + 2027 salary)
  • 2028 Roster Bonus: $15M (3rd league day of 2028)

Source: NFL contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

2021-2025 Rookie Extension

Contract Terms:
4 yr(s) / $112,011,000
Average Salary:
$28,002,750
Signing Bonus:
$35,593,470
GTD at Sign:
$80,000,000
Total GTD:
$80,000,000
Free Agent:
2026 / UFA
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2017-2021 Rookie

Contract Terms:
4 yr(s) / $9,258,568
Average Salary:
$2,314,642
Signing Bonus:
$4,873,504
GTD at Sign:
$9,258,568
Total GTD:
$9,258,568
Free Agent:
2022 / UFA
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Seasons

9 Years

Career Earnings thru 2026

$154,902,038

Earnings w/ Different Teams

1 team

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2017 23
Active
$5,338,504
$5,338,504
2018 24
Active
$885,844
$6,224,348
2019 25
Active
$1,306,688
$7,531,036
2020 26
Active
$1,727,532
$9,258,568
2021 27
Active
$36,593,470
$45,852,038
 All NFL (1st) DPOY
2022 28
Active
$24,000,000
$69,852,038
2023 29
Active
$20,000,000
$89,852,038
 Afc Pro Bowl:OLB All NFL (1st)
2024 30
Active
$21,050,000
$110,902,038
 Afc Pro Bowl:OLB All NFL (2nd)
2025 31
Active
$44,000,000
$154,902,038
 Afc Pro Bowl:OLB
Total      
$154,902,038
$154,902,038
2026 32
Active
$32,000,000
2027 33
Active
$32,000,000
2028 34
Active
$36,050,000
Total
$254,952,038

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Incentives Cash Cumulative
9 $65,435,064 $80,466,974 - $9,000,000 - - $154,902,038
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Workout Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2017
23
$465,000
$4,873,504
$5,338,504
$5,338,504
2018
24
$885,844
$885,844
$6,224,348
2019
25
$1,306,688
$1,306,688
$7,531,036
2020
26
$1,727,532
$1,727,532
$9,258,568
2021
27
$1,000,000
$35,593,470
$36,593,470
$45,852,038
2022
28
$15,000,000
$9,000,000
$24,000,000
$69,852,038
2023
29
$20,000,000
$20,000,000
$89,852,038
2024
30
$21,050,000
$21,050,000
$110,902,038
2025
31
$4,000,000
$40,000,000
$44,000,000
$154,902,038
Total
$65,435,064
$80,466,974
$9,000,000
$154,902,038
$154,902,038
2026
32
$32,000,000
$32,000,000
2027
33
$32,000,000
$32,000,000
2028
34
$21,050,000
$15,000,000
$36,050,000
Total
$150,485,064
$80,466,974
$9,000,000
$15,000,000
$254,952,038

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Incentives Cash Cumulative
9 $65,435,064 $80,466,974 - $9,000,000 - - $154,902,038

Injuries

Year Weeks Reason
2022 PIT 2 - 9 Pectoral
2021 PIT 13 - 13 COVID-19
  • Dec 12, 2025 Fined $11,593 Late Hit against Baltimore (BAL)
  • Jul 17, 2025 Signed a 3 year $123 million contract extension with Pittsburgh (PIT)
  • Nov 03, 2023 Fined $16,391 Roughing the Passer against Jacksonville (JAX)
  • Oct 13, 2023 Fined $13,659 Removing Helmet on the Field against Baltimore (BAL)
  • Oct 13, 2023 Fined $11,473 Hit to a defenseless receiver against Baltimore (BAL)
  • Dec 02, 2022 Fined $13,621 Obscene Gesture against Indianapolis (IND)
  • Sep 07, 2022 Converted $9M of 2022 salary into signing bonus, clearing $6.75M of cap with Pittsburgh (PIT)
  • Dec 12, 2021 Fined $10,300 Taunting against Minnesota (MIN)
  • Oct 22, 2021 Fined $10,815 Unsportsmanlike Conduct against Seattle (SEA)
  • Sep 09, 2021 Signed a 4 year $112.011 million contract extension with Pittsburgh (PIT)
  • Apr 28, 2020 Pittsburgh (PIT) exercised a $10.089 million 5th year option for 2021
  • Nov 22, 2019 Fined $3,507 Entering the field for a fight against Cleveland (CLE)
  • Oct 12, 2018 Fined $20,054 Roughing the Passer against Matt Ryan (ATL)
  • Jun 14, 2017 Signed a 4 year $9.25 million contract with Pittsburgh (PIT)
  • Apr 27, 2017 Drafted by Pittsburgh (PIT): Round 1 (#30 overall)

Fines

Date Reason Fine Amount
Dec 12, 2025 Late Hit against Baltimore (BAL) $11,593
Nov 03, 2023 Roughing the Passer against Jacksonville (JAX) $16,391
Oct 13, 2023 Hit to a defenseless receiver against Baltimore (BAL) $11,473
Oct 13, 2023 Removing Helmet on the Field against Baltimore (BAL) $13,659
Dec 02, 2022 Obscene Gesture against Indianapolis (IND) $13,621
Dec 12, 2021 Taunting against Minnesota (MIN) $10,300
Oct 22, 2021 Unsportsmanlike Conduct against Seattle (SEA) $10,815
Nov 22, 2019 Entering the field for a fight against Cleveland (CLE) $3,507
Oct 12, 2018 Roughing the Passer against Matt Ryan (ATL) $20,054
Fines: 9 $111,413
Year Team GP GS Snaps Snaps% Sack Tackles Total Tackles Solo Tackles Assisted FFum Int
2025 PIT 14 14 812 78.76 7 55 23 32 3 2
2024 PIT 17 17 938 83.30 12 61 40 21 6 0
2023 PIT 17 16 931 87.09 19 68 48 20 4 1
2022 PIT 10 10 502 43.28 6 39 27 12 1 2
2021 PIT 15 15 758 64.73 23 64 48 16 5 0
2020 PIT 15 15 856 77.96 15 53 43 10 1 1
2019 PIT 16 16 957 86.80 15 55 35 20 8 2
2018 PIT 16 16 902 86.80 13 68 50 18 6 0
2017 PIT 15 15 752 76.50 7 54 40 14 1 1
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