The Steelers signed linebacker T.J. Watt to a new four-year contract.

Watt, who won the Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 and was a finalist in 2024, has been a stabilizing force for the defense since he was selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

Watt is the Steelers all-time sack leader with 108 career sacks. He recorded his 100th career sack against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5 of the 2024 season, on a night he accounted for one and a half sacks.

Watt became the second fastest player to reach 100 career sacks, doing it in 109 career games. Only Hall of Famer Reggie White did it faster, reaching the 100-sack mark in 96 games.

Watt is also one of only three players to reach 100 career sacks before the age of 30. His 108 career sacks are third-most in NFL history by a player in their first eight seasons in the NFL.

"You have to put two guys on this man," said Hall of Fame Coach Bill Cowher. "He can wreak havoc in a game. He is that type of player.

"He is a defensive player of the year candidate. He is a guy that can change a game. He is a first ballot Hall of Fame player. Those are guys you have to game plan for."

Watt has appeared in 121 games, starting all of them since his rookie season. He has recorded 460 tackles, including 330 solo stops, 126 tackles for a loss, 108 sacks, 225 quarterback hits, 49 passes defensed, 33 forced fumbles, 12 fumble recoveries, including one returned for a touchdown, and seven interceptions.

Watt was voted by his teammates as the 2024 Steelers Most Valuable Player, becoming the first player in team history to win the award five times (2019-21, 23-24). Watt earned multiple honors in 2024, including being named second team AP All-Pro and All-NFL by the Pro Football Writers of America, as well as being voted a starter for the Pro Bowl Games, although he didn't participate due to injury.

Watt started all 17 regular season games in 2024, finishing with 61 tackles, 40 of them solo stops. He had 11.5 sacks, 19 tackles for a loss, 27 quarterback hits, six forced fumbles, four passes defensed, three strip sacks, and two fumble recoveries.

He was the only player in the NFL that ranked among the top six in the League in strip sacks (t-1st), forced fumbles (1st), quarterback hits (6th), fumble recoveries (t-7th), sacks (8th) and tackles for loss (2nd) in 2024.

His relentless approach is on display in everything he does, something that doesn't go unnoticed.

"No question he is relentless," said Coach Mike Tomlin. "He's not hungry. Hunger can be satisfied.

"He's driven. You feel it in everything that he does."

Watt was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against the New York Giants in a Week 8 win.

Watt had seven tackles, two sacks, including a strip-sack that he recovered near the end of the game. And that couldn't have come at a better time as the Steelers had just turned the ball over and the Giants were driving.

It was the eighth time in his career Watt won Player of the Week honors, previously doing so Weeks 1 and 5 of 2018; Week 2 of 2020; Weeks 6, 13 and 17 of 2021; and Week 18 of 2023.

"I'm not surprised by it, but it doesn't mean that it's not appreciated," said Tomlin of Watt's ability to continually make splash plays. "I just come to expect it because he's got a unique talent, a unique approach. Usually that produces unique results with a really consistent tone to it and usually at the most-timely moments. I think the new Steelers are shaking their heads. I think the guys that have been here kind of expect it."

Watt won the AP Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2021, joining an exclusive group of Steelers who won the award, including Joe Greene (1972, 1974), Mel Blount (1975), Jack Lambert (1976), Rod Woodson (1993), James Harrison (2008) and Troy Polamalu (2010), five of the six in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

"You definitely have to say that he could have played with us because of the intensity that he brings to the game and the desire," said Greene. "The separation between any player, those that command and demand respect, is the attitude that they bring to the game, to the position. That's the separation line. The attitude. The desire. For them, winning the game and beating the opposition is the number one priority.

"Just looking at him, his physical stature for an edge rusher, he has length, he has the legs and the arms. The most important of all, other than the physical stature, is he has the want to and the desire. That is what makes it happen for him.

"He has the motor. That's the engine that drives him. I had the size and the ingredients, but what was missing with me was the speed. What helped me was my desire to play, my desire to win, and I see that same thing in T.J.'s effort every play. You see that intensity. You can't coach that."

CAREER HONORS

2021 Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year
2021 PFWA Defensive Player of the Year
2021 Sporting News Defensive Player of the Year
Seven-time Pro Bowler (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Eight-time AFC Defensive Player of the Week (Weeks 1 and 5 of 2018; Week 2 of 2020; Weeks 6, 13 and 17 of 2021; Week 18 of 2023; Week 8 of 2024)
Six-time NFL Top 100 (2019, 93; 2020, 25; 2021, 9; 2022, 6; 2023, 27; 2024, 8)
Five-time Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) First Team All-NFL (2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024)
Five-time Pittsburgh Steelers MVP (2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024)
Five-time Sporting News First Team All-Pro (2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024)
Four-time Associated Press First Team All-Pro (2019, 2020, 2021, 2023)
His four AP First Team All-Pro selections is tied for the fifth-most among active NFL players
Four-time Steelers team captain (2020, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Four-time AFC Defensive Player of the Month (November 2019; September 2020; November 2020; September 2023)
Three-time The Committee of 101 AFC Defensive Player of the Year (2020, 2021, 2023)
Three-time Deacon Jones Award winner (2020, 2021, 2023)
Three-time Pro Football Focus First Team All-Pro (2019, 2020, 2024)
Two-time Associated Press Second Team All-Pro (2020, 2024)
Two-time Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year Runner-up (2020, 2023)
2017 NFL All-Rookie Team

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

- Has played in 121 regular-season games (121 starts) over his eight-year NFL career (Steelers 2017-24)
- Has registered 460 tackles (330 solo), 225 quarterback hits, 126 tackles for loss, 108.0 sacks, 49 passes defensed, 33 forced fumbles, seven interceptions and 12 fumble recoveries
- Led the NFL with 22.5 sacks in 2021 (despite missing two full games and portions of four others), tying Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan (22.5 sacks in 2001) for the most in a season since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic
- Fifth player to reach 22.0 sacks in a single season since 1982
- Twelfth player (13th season) to reach 20.0 sacks in a single season since 1982
- Second Pittsburgh player overall and the first since James Harrison in 2008 to receive the Defensive Player of the Year award, annually given to the League's top defensive player
- First linebacker to win the award since Baltimore's Terrell Suggs in 2011 and the ninth overall linebacker presented the PFWA Defensive Player of the Year honor
- First player in franchise history to earn Steelers' Most Valuable Player in four consecutive seasons
- First player since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, to lead the League in sacks three times (2020, 2021 and 2023)
- Watt (three), Alan Page (three), Reggie White (three), Ray Lewis (three), Bruce Smith (three), Aaron Donald
(four) and J.J. Watt (four) are the only players to win The Committee of 101 Defensive Player of the Year award at least three times in either conference since the inaugural event in 1969
- Joined Hall of Famer Joe Greene as the only two Steelers to win The Committee of 101 AFC Defensive Player of the Year award more than once (Greene won the award in 1972 and 1974)
- Averaged 0.89 sacks/game since entering the League back in 2017, which is the best in NFL history (min. 120 games started)
- His 108.0 career sacks are the third-most by a player in his first eight seasons in the NFL since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic
- His 108.0 career sacks are the most in franchise history
- His 108.0 career sacks are the most in the NFL since the start of the 2017 season
- Has registered 48.0 sacks in 45 career games vs. AFC North foes, which is the most by any player since the division was adopted after the restructuring of the 2002 NFL season when the League realigned divisions after expanding to 32 teams
- Has registered 21.0 sacks in 22 career road games vs. AFC North foes, which is the second-most by any player since the division was adopted in 2002
- Has registered 17.0 sacks vs. Cleveland, 17.0 sacks vs. Baltimore and 14.0 sacks vs. Cincinnati
- His 17.0 sacks vs. Baltimore (16 career games) are the most against the Ravens in their franchise history -- James Harrison (16.0) is the only player in NFL history with 16.0+ sacks against Baltimore and it took him 27 career games
- Only player in franchise history with 17.0+ sacks against a single opponent (17.0 vs. CLE; 17.0 vs. BLT).
- Only other active NFL player with 17.0+ sacks against a single opponent is Cameron Jordan (24.0 vs. ATL; 17.0 vs. TB) -- each was accomplished in at least 28 career games
- Has registered double-digit sack seasons six times in his eight-year career
- His six double-digit sack seasons are the most by a Steeler since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic
- Surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer DeMarcus Ware (113 games) as the second-fastest player to reach 100 career sacks since 1982 (did so in 109 games), when the individual sack became an official statistic
- Only Pro Football Hall of Famer Reggie White (96) reached the milestone in fewer games
- Third player since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, with 100.0 career sacks prior to his 30th birthday, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Reggie White, 108.0, and Jared Allen, 105.0 (Watt turned 30 years old on Oct. 11, 2024)
- First player since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, to lead the League in sacks three times (2020, 2021 and 2023)
- Ranks among the top eight active players in strip sacks (2nd), forced fumbles (1st), QB hits (4th), fumble recoveries (t-4th), sacks (4th) and tackles for loss (t-7th)
- Only player in NFL history with at least at least 108.0 sacks, 125 tackles for loss, 225 QB hits, 33 forced fumbles, 23 strip sacks and 12 fumble recoveries
- Has registered 59.0 sacks in the second half/OT since the start of the 2017 season, which are the most in the NFL
- Has registered at least five QB hits, three tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble in the same game three times in his career, while the rest of the NFL, combined, has accomplished it seven times

CAREER STATS

SINGLE-GAME HIGHS: DEFENSIVE

Total Tackles
10 at Cleveland Browns, Sep 09, 2018
8 vs. Dallas Cowboys, Oct 06, 2024
8 at Baltimore Ravens, Jan 06, 2024
...3 more at 8.

Solo Tackles
7 vs. Dallas Cowboys, Oct 06, 2024
7 vs. Green Bay Packers, Nov 12, 2023
...1 more at 7.

Sacks
4.0 vs. Cleveland Browns, Jan 03, 2022
3.5 vs. Baltimore Ravens, Dec 05, 2021
3.0 vs. San Francisco 49ers, Sep 10, 2023
3.0 vs. Chicago Bears, Nov 08, 2021
...2 more at 3.0.

Passes Defensed
3 vs. Seattle Seahawks, Oct 17, 2021
3 at Dallas Cowboys, Nov 08, 2020
2 vs. Baltimore Ravens, Oct 08, 2023
...5 more at 2.

Forced Fumbles
2 at Las Vegas Raiders, Oct 13, 2024
2 vs. San Francisco 49ers, Sep 10, 2023
...3 more at 2.

Fumble Recoveries
1 vs. New York Giants, Oct 28, 2024
1 at Atlanta Falcons, Sep 08, 2024
...10 more at 1.

Tackles For Loss
4 at Cleveland Browns, Sep 09, 2018
3 at Cincinnati Bengals, Dec 01, 2024
3 at Baltimore Ravens, Jan 06, 2024
...11 more at 3.

Interceptions
1 vs. Cincinnati Bengals, Nov 20, 2022
1 at Cincinnati Bengals, Sep 11, 2022
...4 more at 1.

Interception Return Yards
17 at Cleveland Browns, Sep 10, 2017
7 at San Francisco 49ers, Sep 22, 2019

Special Teams Tackles
1 vs. Tennessee Titans, Nov 16, 2017
1 at Cleveland Browns, Sep 10, 2017

Longest Opp Fumble Return
18 vs. Baltimore Ravens, Oct 08, 2023
16 vs. Cleveland Browns, Sep 18, 2023