While the 2025-26 NFL season is steadily approaching its commencement date, the Pittsburgh Steelers have yet to settle the ongoing contract negotiations with T.J. Watt. The veteran linebacker has been with the Steelers throughout his professional career, after signing with the team in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft. However, with the two parties yet to reach an agreement regarding his contract extension, rumors regarding a potential transfer involving Watt have started to surface on the internet.
Did the Pittsburgh Steelers trade T.J. Watt?
At the time of writing, the Pittsburgh Steelers have not traded the 30-year-old linebacker to any side.
While contract negotiations between the Steelers and T.J. Watt continue to stretch, recent reports suggest that the holdup has more to do with finalizing the details of the athlete’s new deal rather than anything else. During her recent appearance on 93.7 The Fan, ESPN’s Brooke Pryor provided an insight into the halted conversations between Watt and the Steelers, noting, “T.J. Watt wants more guaranteed money than the Steelers are currently trying to offer him. This is a negotiation that will get done when it gets done.”
Pryor also hinted at a possible timeline for the ongoing contract negotiations between T.J. Watt and his NFL team, stating that discussions could carry into the training camp. A similar holdup occurred during the seven-time Pro Bowl nominee’s contract extension back in 2021, at the end of which he signed a four-year deal with the Steelers worth over $112 million with $80 million guaranteed.
Renowned Steelers insider Mark Kaboly shared a similar update on X (formerly Twitter) regarding the said negotiations, stating, “Steelers are still in a holding pattern with T.J. Watt’s contract extension. Length of deal, guarantees, and total value — basically everything, to some varying degrees — are the sticking points right now.” He also added that no other teams have made inquiries about a potential trade, suggesting that an eventual extension should be on the table.
