Aaron Rodgers sends Steelers clear T.J. Watt message after retirement revelation

Pittsburgh Steelers star pass-rusher T.J. Watt may want to send quarterback and new teammate Aaron Rodgers a gift basket later this summer. 

During a Tuesday appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," Rodgers revealed that he is "pretty sure" he will retire from playing after he spends the 2025 season with the Steelers. While speaking with McAfee about Pittsburgh's roster, Rodgers also seemed to send a message to the Steelers regarding Watt's much-publicized desire for a contract extension.

"Once we get our Hall of Fame outside rush-backer signed, you're talking about another guy who's a leader, not just by his example, but by his words," Rodgers said while referencing Watt, as shared by Josh Carney of Steelers Depot. 

Watt is in the last year of the contract extension he signed in 2021, and presumably is looking for a significant pay raise after he stayed away from the club throughout its three-day mandatory minicamp that ran from June 10-12. Specifically, multiple Steelers reporters have suggested Watt is looking to better the four-year, $160M extension that included $123.5M guaranteed that Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns received shortly after he went public with a trade request in February. 

There's no indication that Watt will use such a tactic to get what he wants from the Steelers this summer. That said, Watt's next deal could become more expensive for Pittsburgh than what his asking price was as of the morning of June 24 if Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys or Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals resets the market before Watt puts pen to paper on an agreement. 

"I'm going to give the Steelers everything that I got and empty the tank and be super comfortable and satisfied with whatever happens," Rodgers told the "McAfee" crew, per Nick Shook of the NFL's website. "Obviously, we dream about playing at the highest level in the biggest games."

The Steelers undeniably would have a better chance of winning the season's "biggest games" with a happy Watt as part of their defense through at least January 2026. It certainly sounds like Rodgers expects the Steelers to get something done with Watt before veteran players are due to report to training camp on July 23.