Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

TJ Watt causes stir with Instagram post

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Larry Brown | Last updated Apr 9, 2025 5:57 PM ET

TJ Watt caused some fear among his fans with a photo he shared on Instagram Wednesday.

Watt shared a photo to his Instagram Story that showed him raising two fingers in the air on his right hand — effectively giving the peace sign.

Now this is a TJ Watt post on Instagram that will give fans heart palpitations … but maybe it’s just a favorite photo of his pic.twitter.com/2Y5Rm5ld1N
— Brian Batko (@BrianBatko) April 9, 2025

Watt is entering the final year of a four-year, $112 million extension he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in September 2021. He is set to earn a base salary of $21.05 million with a $30.4 million cap hit for the upcoming season. Watt made clear in January that he wants to remain with the Steelers long term.

The 30-year-old defensive sar was a first-round pick by Pittsburgh in 2017 out of Wisconsin. He made the Pro Bowl in 2018 and has received that honor in each successive year. Watt has also posted double-digit sack totals in every season except for 2022, when he had 5.5 sacks in 10 games. In 17 games last season, Watt had 61 tackles, 11.5 sacks and 6 forced fumbles.

Steelers GM Omar Khan said at the end of March that he was hopeful Watt would “finish his career as a Steeler.”

Steelers GM Omar Khan on the big contracts being given around the NFL to edge rushers and what that means for TJ Watt: "I'll just say that I'm very hopeful that TJ will finish his career as a Steeler."
— Dale Lolley (@dlolley_pgh) March 31, 2025