The last time the Pittsburgh Steelers won a playoff game was back in the 2016 NFL season. The team made it all the way to the AFC Championship Game only to lose to the New England Patriots. It has been a long time since the organization has been victorious in the postseason, but there was one extremely good thing came out of not making the Super Bowl that year. With the 30th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, then-General Manager Kevin Colbert made the decision to sit back and wait as TJ Watt fell into the Steel City's arms with one of the final picks of the first round.
Watt is first all-time in Steelers history when it comes to sacking the quarterback. He has 101 career sacks and there are plenty more to come. He is on a quest for his second AP Defensive Player of the Year award in 2024, and fans in Pittsburgh are hoping that he remains a part of the organization until he decides to hang up his cleats one day in the future.
With a plethora of things to think about, football players in today's day and age understand that there is life after professional football to worry about. Watt has already accomplished so much, which is why the prospect of potentially playing until he was 40 came up when he spoke to the media on Saturday ahead of the team's Week 8 matchup against the New York Giants. He was direct in his response when addressing his future.
"My wife probably wouldn't like that [if I played until 40]," Watt told reporters with a grin. "I love football. I love it right now. I see myself loving it for a long time and as long as my body holds up, I want to play as long as I can."
Watt went on to say that he doesn't really want tot think about the future as he just turned 30, but it's certainly a fair question to ask because the Steelers may have to think about extending his contract in the 2025 offseason. He has been one of, if not, the best defensive players in the NFL for some time. As long as he envisions himself playing for several more years, there's no reason for Pittsburgh and current General Manager Omar Khan not to pay him once again.
The Steelers are extremely lucky to have Watt. He is as consistent as they come and demands a ton of attention from opposing teams. It was certainly interesting when his Week 8 opponent recommended that he be put on an island against the perennial All-Pro. Those are words that Jermaine Eluemunor could absolutely regret come Monday night and Tuesday morning.
Pittsburgh has not been good without Watt in the lineup and his health has been crucial to the team's success for the majority of his career. As long as he can stay healthy and compete week in and week out, the organization will be set up very nicely at the position and in general. He has the ability to wreck any game at any time, and even the best offensive tackles throughout the NFL don't want to have to line up against him on game days.
Steelers Have An Incredible Trio That Could Be Dominant For Several Years
Watt, along with Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig, make up one of the most formidable pass-rushing trios in the entire NFL. When all are healthy, it is a nightmare for opposing teams to game plan for the three-headed monster. Watt leads the way, but has two incredibly talented individuals right behind him. If Pittsburgh can find a way to keep the group together long-term, getting to the quarterback won't be much of an issue for the defense for the foreseeable future.
