Steelers' T.J. Watt hints at when he might retire

The Pittsburgh Steelers made a great decision during the 2017 NFL Draft when they selected T.J. Watt with the 30th overall pick. 

Watt has been one of the best defenders in the league since being drafted, and is the Steelers' all-time sack leader, a feat he accomplished during the 2024 season. 

He won the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year Award for his performance during the 2021 season, in which he tied the NFL's single-season sack record. He probably should have some more hardware, as he has been notably snubbed several other times.

Watt will turn 31 during the 2025 season, and he and his wife, professional soccer player Dani Rhodes, just had their first child during the 2025 offseason. He is preparing to enter his ninth season with the Steelers. 

Watt is nearing the age where he might begin to think about retirement. He recently sat down for an interview with Graham Bensinger, and Bensinger asked Watt his thoughts on it.

"It's nice to see that lifestyle now, but I always get the itch around this time to go back to work," Watt said. "I think it's really special when guys can retire when they are playing at a high level. You never want to be that guy that's just hanging on by a thread. That was important for J.J. [Watt]. It was cool to see him, I think he had 12 sacks or something, he was going off at the end, like those last couple weeks of his career."

The star defender for Pittsburgh doesn't seem like he is considering retirement quite yet, but it sounds like he wants to go out on top of his game. Watt doesn't want to be playing a limited amount of snaps in a contest while struggling to make any impact as he ages. If his production begins to drop, that might be a sign he's ready to hang up the cleats.

Watt's production dropped during the 2024 season, but that can mostly be blamed on an ankle sprain that he suffered near the end of the regular season and then played through to finish the year. It certainly hindered his performance, and he should return to being the dominant player that the fan base has grown accustomed to once the 2025 season begins.

The star was having a spectacular season until an injury impeded his performance, and he will likely be a star once again in 2025. Retirement should be several seasons away for Watt, especially after signing a new extension in July that keeps him in Pittsburgh through the 2028 season.

Watt watched both of his brothers retire fairly early

T.J. saw his two brothers, Derek Watt and J.J. Watt, both retire somewhat early in their careers. They each had children, and Derek retired at the age of 31, while J.J. retired when he was 33. As T.J.'s age creeps up on him, it will continue to be a topic of discussion. He will be 34 when his new contract expires.

Pittsburgh is doing everything possible to win now for T.J., as he has yet to win a playoff game in his career.