J.J. Watt sparks speculation about T.J. Watt's future

With T.J. entering the final year of his contract in 2025, questions about his future with the Steelers loom large. His brother, J.J. Watt, addressed the situation on Wednesday’s episode of "The Pat McAfee Show," dropping a cryptic hint about T.J.’s future. 

"No, I mean there’s only one left," J.J. said. "He will be a free agent after this 2025 season. A true free agent. I mean do you ever go into the last year of a contract? I don’t know of many people who go into the last year of a contract like that." 

It’s unlikely the Steelers will let T.J. finish his career elsewhere, given his importance to the team and his deep ties to Pittsburgh. However, in the unpredictable world of the NFL, anything is possible. T.J. will likely command a hefty extension, and as Tone Digz shouted during J.J.'s appearance, an extension seems almost certain. 

But there’s still uncertainty, as some believe the Steelers might need to shift toward a younger defensive core. In fact, some have even floated the wild idea of trading T.J., though that scenario seems far-fetched. It could be a real possibility as Mike Tomlin stated some major changes have to happen.

Similar to Cam Heyward in the 2024 offseason, T.J. will likely want to secure his future before the season begins. The Steelers have a policy of not negotiating during the season, so if they allow T.J. to play out the final year of his contract, it could be a bold move, possibly signaling they’re open to parting ways with their star pass rusher.

J.J.'s cryptic comments didn’t explicitly indicate T.J.’s departure from Pittsburgh, but they’ve certainly fueled speculation about his future. T.J. himself has made it clear that he doesn’t want to play for anyone other than Tomlin, leading many fans to believe he will stay in Pittsburgh for the long haul and finish his career in the Steel City, assuming the coach is still there as well.