{"id":2351,"date":"2025-07-17T16:15:37","date_gmt":"2025-07-17T23:15:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsaresexy-com.stackstaging.com\/?p=2351"},"modified":"2025-07-18T16:18:00","modified_gmt":"2025-07-18T23:18:00","slug":"tj-watt-becomes-the-highest-paid-non-qb-in-nfl-history-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footballissexy.com\/index.php\/tj-watt-becomes-the-highest-paid-non-qb-in-nfl-history-again\/","title":{"rendered":"TJ Watt Becomes the Highest-Paid Non-QB in NFL History&#8230;Again"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>There\u2019s securing the bag\u2026 and then there\u2019s <strong>TJ Watt<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>Pittsburgh Steelers\u2019 defensive superstar<\/strong> just reminded the entire league \u2014 and let\u2019s be honest, the world \u2014 why he&#8217;s one of the most dominant forces in football, <em>on either side of the ball<\/em>. Watt has agreed to a <strong>three-year, $123 million extension<\/strong>, making him the <strong>highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history<\/strong> for the <strong>second time<\/strong> in his career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What\u2019s even sexier? <strong>$108 million of that is fully guaranteed at signing.<\/strong> That\u2019s generational wealth, delivered with linebacker-level impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DMOQcYXhyC0\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DMOQcYXhyC0\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\"> <div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div><div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\"> <div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DMOQcYXhyC0\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\">A post shared by Football Is Sexy (@footballissexy)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>The deal averages <strong>$41 million per year<\/strong>, setting a new gold standard for elite defensive players. It\u2019s not just a contract \u2014 it\u2019s a statement: <strong>dominance gets paid<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And TJ? He\u2019s more than earned it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The youngest of the Watt dynasty, TJ has carved out his own name with relentless precision, highlight-reel sacks, and a presence on the field that quarterbacks <em>literally<\/em> fear. He was named the <strong>2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year<\/strong>, has <strong>multiple Pro Bowl selections<\/strong>, and holds the <strong>Steelers&#8217; franchise sack record<\/strong> \u2014 no small feat for a team with one of the most storied defenses in history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But let\u2019s not pretend this is just about numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is about <strong>power meeting polish<\/strong>. <strong>Legacy meeting leverage<\/strong>. And yes, <strong>football being very, very sexy<\/strong>. TJ Watt\u2019s game has always had that mix of grit and grace \u2014 a walking reminder that strength can be beautiful, and dominance can be dazzling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether he&#8217;s exploding off the edge or showing up in a tailored suit that screams \u201cCEO energy,\u201d TJ Watt is everything we love about this game: <strong>strategic, fearless, and built to last<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Congratulations, TJ. You didn\u2019t just break the bank \u2014 you reset the standard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udcda Sources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a>NFL.com \u2013 TJ Watt Signs 3-Year, $123M Extension<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a>ESPN \u2013 Steelers\u2019 TJ Watt Gets Record Deal<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RapSheet\/status\/1814713394824395028\">Ian Rapoport (NFL Insider) via X\/Twitter<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a>Spotrac \u2013 TJ Watt Contract Details<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a>Pittsburgh Steelers Official Site<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There\u2019s securing the bag\u2026 and then there\u2019s TJ Watt. The Pittsburgh Steelers\u2019 defensive superstar just reminded the entire league \u2014 and let\u2019s be honest, the world \u2014 why he&#8217;s one of the most dominant forces&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2352,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[62,81,85],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[145],"class_list":{"0":"post-2351","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football","8":"category-nfl-team-news","9":"category-pittsburg-steelers"},"aioseo_notices":[],"authors":[{"term_id":145,"user_id":2,"is_guest":0,"slug":"tasha","display_name":"Tasha Macri","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b2f554b129806d985f524acb0a085767d8a592e99d195688b40701a9da21c99d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","0":null,"1":"","2":"","3":"","4":"","5":"","6":"","7":"","8":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/footballissexy.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2351","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/footballissexy.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/footballissexy.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footballissexy.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footballissexy.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2351"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/footballissexy.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2351\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2353,"href":"https:\/\/footballissexy.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2351\/revisions\/2353"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footballissexy.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2352"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/footballissexy.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2351"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footballissexy.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2351"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footballissexy.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2351"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footballissexy.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=2351"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}