Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt created a social media stir on Wednesday afternoon when he made a cryptic post on social media.
The four-time All-Pro pass-rusher posted an image of himself giving the ‘peace’ sign on his Instagram story with no caption. It didn’t take long for fans on social media to start speculating about the possibility of the Steelers trading their star.
Watt, 30, is entering the final year of the four-year, $112 million extension he signed in 2021. After fellow edge rushers Maxx Crosby (Raiders) and Myles Garrett (Browns) received massive extensions of their own earlier this offseason, Watt may also be looking to cash in.
The year he signed his most recent extension, Watt tied Michael Strahan’s NFL record for most sacks in a single season (22.5). After missing seven games with a torn pectoral in 2022, Watt bounced back with another strong year in 2023, once again leading the league with 19 sacks.
The Wisconsin product finished the 2024 season with 61 tackles – including 11.5 sacks – and a league-leading six forced fumbles in 17 games.
The Steelers had the third-best pass-rush win rate in the NFL in 2024 (46%), according to ESPN. Only the Denver Broncos (46%) and Houston Texans (49%) ranked higher.
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