Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro outside linebacker T.J. Watt has shown no signs of slowing down, but he is approaching his 30th birthday on Oct. 11. The 30-year-old age mark is usually when players start to think about their future and legacy.
Watt realizes that time is limited and there are no guarantees.
“I don’t have forever to play,” Watt told Mark Kaboly of The Athletic. “I have always approached the game as right now, and I have never taken it for granted, and that hasn’t changed at all.”
His brother, J.J. Watt, retired at the age of 33 after the 2022 season. J.J. dealt with a series of injuries late in his career.
T.J. was pretty much healthy his entire career until the last two seasons. He missed seven games in 2022 due to a torn pectoral and knee injury. Last season, he only missed the wild-card playoff game because of a sprained MCL, but he was banged-up for most of the back-end of the regular-season.
“I don’t know if I want to play forever, but who knows? It is too hard to say,” Watt said. “J.J. always said he didn’t want to play super long, then things happened and he ended up playing longer. I won’t know until that moment comes. I feel great right now, so I am kind of just living in the moment.”
Watt is 0-3 in playoff games with the Steelers. Not having a playoff win is something that irks the 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He finds it to be flat-out embarrassing.
“For me, it is all about no playoff wins,” Watt said. “I am trying to do anything I can do. We have so much turnover year to year and so many new guys that it is trying to learn as much as possible coming from guys from other organizations that have done it and won championships since being in the league.
“I am going to do whatever is possible to win. It is about not taking any day for granted, and when it comes down to executing and working, putting everything aside and getting it done.”
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