Steelers Face Holdout Threat From $112 Million All-Pro Ahead of Pivotal Season

The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves at something of a crossroads heading into the 2025 campaign, with an aging but talented defense and 41-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers set to lead on the other side of the football.

It could be difficult for Pittsburgh to maintain the staggering level of consistency it has found under head coach Mike Tomlin over the past 18 seasons -- during which the Steelers have never finished below .500 and have made the playoffs 12 times -- beyond 2025 considering the age of some of the best players on the roster.

That explains Rodgers' presence as kind of a home-run swing, which the team coupled with its trade and expensive extension for wide receiver DK Metcalf. It also explains, in part, why the Steelers have yet to extend five-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro-Bowl edge rusher T.J. Watt.

Watt will play next season, his ninth in the NFL, at 31 years old. He has one year remaining on his four-year, $112 million contract and is eligible to sign a new deal.

However, paying Watt huge money may not make sense if Pittsburgh decides to pursue a full reset/rebuild in 2025, which the franchise has put off at least one year via the decisions it made over the last several months. The Steelers are at least listening to trade offers for its star player, though no deal is imminent.

Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report warned on Tuesday, July 15, that Pittsburgh risks alienating Watt to the point that he could decide to hold out beginning later this month.

"The issue for Pittsburgh is that Watt could potentially hold out when the Steelers open camp on July 23," Knox wrote. "If he does, that could impact his preparation entering a pivotal season with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Even if Watt doesn't hold out, his contract situation could cause a distraction."

That outcome could throw a serious wrench in the Steelers' plans for the upcoming campaign and is something the team must consider over the next week.

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Kiều Linh - 07/16/2025

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