Wait Until You See JJ's Response to TJ Watt's New Steelers Contract

After weeks of speculation and rumors, star linebacker TJ Watt put to bed any rumors of him playing for any team not named the Pittsburgh Steelers when he signed a massive three-year, $123 million extension with the team on Thursday. And his brother, JJ, had some fun with the announcement, too!

Upon learning about the deal — which makes TJ Watt the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history — JJ made it known that he doesn’t expect to be paying the tab at dinner anytime soon. On X, formerly Twitter, Watt jokingly wrote, “I swear, if this guy even lets me begin to reach for my wallet at dinner…” It’s nice to know he’s proud of his brother!

An all-time great in his own right, JJ Watt had an illustrious 12-year career in the NFL, a majority of which he spent with the Houston Texans. But despite his immense talent, he never made as much money in the NFL as his brother has. According to CBS Sports (as seen in the tweet above), JJ Watt made $129.7 million over the course of his entire NFL career, averaging about $10.75 million per year. Not a bad living by any means! However, TJ’s new three-year deal almost matches his brother’s career earnings.

TJ Watt Signs The Biggest Deal For A Non-Quarterback In NFL History

For years now, the debate between who’s the best defensive player in the league — TJ Watt or Cleveland’s Myles Garrett — has been raging. I’m biased because I’m a Steelers fan, so I’ll leave it at this: There’s a case to be made for either player. That said, plenty of fans and pundits will say Watt. And, in turn, he wanted a deal that was either equal to or greater than the four-year, $160 million deal Garrett got earlier this year. And the Steelers made it happen.

With a three-year, $123 million deal, Watt will be making $41 million per season, which makes him the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history. This eclipses Garrett’s deal, which is good for $40 million, and also surpasses the monstrous four-year, $161 million deal that Ja’Marr Chase signed earlier this year as well.

Whether you agree with it or not, the Steelers believe Watt is the best defensive player in the league, and they’re paying him like it.

It’s A Good Deal For The Steelers

While they have mostly underachieved for the past decade or so, one thing is true about the Pittsburgh Steelers — they are the poster child for stability and consistency in an NFL where things can often take drastic turns within one offseason. Re-signing Watt, an anchor to their squad, is another testament to that.

Because of this deal, many will argue on social media about whether or not TJ Watt is worth this massive deal. Again, I’m biased, but having watched his entire career, it’s undeniable that he is. The man has made every Pro Bowl team since 2018, is a former Defensive Player of the Year (should’ve won it twice), and has managed to stay mostly healthy throughout his entire career. So not only is he excellent on the field, but he’s been reliable as well. And that should be rewarded.