Pittsburg, PA
T.J. Watt contract winners and losers: Teammate hurt, peer helped by $123M extension?
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One of the more prominent and previously outstanding matters of league-wide NFL business ahead of training camps, which open en masse next week, was checked off the list Thursday afternoon when Pittsburgh Steelers superstar pass rusher T.J. Watt agreed to a long-awaited contract extension, per reports, with the only professional team he’s ever known.
And while this deal was largely expected to materialize at some point this summer and may not necessarily create a seismic impact throughout the football world, it could have some broader implications than you might think.
So we thought about it and now present you with the winners and losers from Watt’s big bag of loot:
WINNERS
T.J. Watt
But of course. His three-year, $123 million extension makes him the top-paid non-quarterback in league history, in terms of average annual value, for the second time in his career. It also means Watt, 30, will almost certainly finish out his football days with the Steelers, who drafted the eventual four-time All-Pro and 2021 Defensive Player of the Year 30th overall in 2017. Pittsburgh’s all-time leader with 108 career sacks, Watt is currently sixth among active players but could vault all the way up to second with one of his typically dominant seasons in 2025. He’s certainly got 123 million reasons worth of incentives to do so.
Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan
The conclusion of negotiations with Watt would seem to mark the end of a wildly successful offseason, one when the Steelers’ longtime head coach and recently extended general manager, respectively, practiced patience while fans and some league observers practiced panic. But now Watt has returned to the fold, which he always seemed destined to do, and will soon meet new teammates like QB Aaron Rodgers, who also took his sweet time signing on, WR DK Metcalf, DB Jalen Ramsey and TE Jonnu Smith along with the incoming rookie class. Expectations are justifiably growing for a team that hasn’t won a playoff game since the 2016 season.
Jalen Ramsey
The perennial Pro Bowler was acquired (along with Smith) at the end of June in a summertime blockbuster that reshapes the back end of Pittsburgh’s defense with S Minkah Fitzpatrick headed back to the Miami Dolphins. It’s currently unclear as to how Ramsey might divide his time between covering receivers out wide, manning the slot or even putting in some work at safety with Fitzpatrick out of the picture. What is certain is that Ramsey’s best years were spent with the Los Angeles Rams, with whom he won a Super Bowl ring four years ago and was consistently at the top of his game playing behind demonic Aaron Donald, who caused so much havoc for opposing quarterbacks. Watt might not quite be Donald, but his presence is almost certain to benefit Ramsey, whether it means less time required in coverage, more opportunities to go ball hawking or even the ability to freelance more once he’s comfortable in his new system and surroundings.
Micah Parsons
With Watt’s contract done, it’s almost certainly just a matter of time before the Dallas Cowboys’ top defender − and one of the NFL’s very best − becomes the next top-paid non-quarterback of all time, whether it’s for $41.1 million a year, $44 million or whatever. But Parsons’ money is coming, and his boss, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, is probably only too happy to generate that headline in due course now that he basically knows where the target is.
(Also, Detroit Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson stands to benefit − at some point − from Watt’s newly realized riches, though he might be waiting longer given his rookie deal doesn’t expire until after the 2026 season.)
LOSERS
T.J. Watt
Bro, why are you signing this paper now? It’s supposed to be in the high 80s, humid and wet when you report to training camp in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, six days from now – where you’ll be moving into dorm rooms at Saint Vincent College. And if that’s not a darkness retreat … (Also, if the answer is evading compulsory fines for missing camp, I’d like to introduce you to Michael Strahan. But I digress.) Watt must really be missing his buddies after skipping the Steelers’ offseason training program given he could have let this drag out another couple weeks while holding in or even simply remaining at the crib or beach or wherever. In addition, no chance brothers J.J. and Derek are ever picking up another dinner check.
They have yet to placate their own holdout pass rusher, All-Pro DE Trey Hendrickson waiting for his financial situation to be resolved. Hendrickson, 30, who has 35 sacks over the past two seasons – 4½ more than Watt over the same period – hasn’t necessarily been looking to reset the market. But given he’s due to make $16 million in the final year of his deal, it’s apparent to him and anyone else outside of Cincinnati that he’s (over)due for a raise and isn’t merely 39% the player Watt is (when you crunch the salary figures anyway). And given how everything is seemingly falling into place in Pittsburgh – and already was basically set in Baltimore – the Bengals would be doing little more than undercutting their playoff hopes yet again by letting business matters impede their football operation. Pay the man.
Myles Garrett
Feels like it was just five minutes ago that he became the first non-quarterback to break the $40 million per year contractual barrier. Then he was overtaken by Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase and now Watt, who both play for (better) division rivals of Garrett’s Cleveland Browns. And, after explicitly stating he was the league’s best defensive player last season after the Browns beat the Steelers in Cleveland – a remark clearly directed at Watt – doesn’t it have to irk Garrett just a little bit that he’s now the second-best paid defender … and for a team that’s probably going to stink?
The Steelers’ Week 1 opponents will now be catching the full T.J. Watt Experience as they unveil an offense led by new QB1 (and former Steeler) Justin Fields. And just when the NYJ might have started to hope they’d be catching a guy trying to knock off rust and possibly playing on an opening day pitch count given how negotiations can sometimes drag late into the process with Pittsburgh players …
Aaron Rodgers?
The Steelers are Watt’s team, and he’s been the face of this franchise for a minute … though maybe you could argue it’s actually Tomlin. Regardless, Rodgers will definitely be the story as long as he’s amongst the yinzers, and the spotlight is about to be completely re-trained onto the four-time league MVP. No more time spent fretting about Watt’s bank account or whereabouts or questions posed to Rodgers about what No. 90 means to the team and how important it is to reward him. Nope, nope, nope. This is now all about No. 8 and what he can do to end Pittsburgh’s playoff failures and stabilize a position – temporarily anyway – that has effectively undermined this team since even before Ben Roethlisberger retired in 2022. Have fun with that, Mr. Rodgers!
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Aaron Rodgers got his first win as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday and said he “was happy to beat everybody associated with the Jets.”
Rodgers’ first win in the black and gold came on the road at MetLife Stadium, back where he spent two years with the New York Jets.
Prior to joining Pittsburgh during free agency, Rodgers said that first-year Jets head coach Aaron Glenn told him the team would be going in a different direction at quarterback when the two met earlier in the offseason.
When asked if there was significance in beating Glenn, Rodgers said he “was happy to beat everybody associated with the Jets.”
“There were probably people in the organization that didn’t think I could play anymore,” Rodgers added after Sunday’s game in New Jersey. “So, it was nice to remind those people that I still can.”
Rodgers threw for 244 yards and four touchdown passes in the 34-32 win over New York on Sunday and received somewhat of a hostile welcome back to MetLife Stadium from the Jets’ faithful.
Following the win, Rodgers held his hand up to his ear while walking off of the field alongside head coach Mike Tomlin.
Mitchell Leff / Getty Images
Rodgers said he didn’t have any hard feelings about his time with the Jets not working out, adding that it’s in the past and he’s happy to be 1-0 with the Steelers.
Up next for Rodgers and Pittsburgh are the Seattle Seahawks as the Steelers will have their home opener on Sunday at Acrisure Stadium.
Kickoff against the Seahawks is set for 1 p.m.
Pittsburg, PA
Chief McIntire Thunder Run returns for third year to honor late Brackenridge police chief
The sound of engines roared through Butler County streets Sunday, with flags waving in the wind, all for one man.
The Chief McIntire Thunder Run returned for its third year, once again bringing the community together to honor Chief Justin McIntire, who was killed in the line of duty on Jan. 2, 2023. Chief McIntire served as the police chief for Brackenridge before the tragedy.
Chief McIntire was remembered as a man who loved to hunt and fish. His brother, Brandon McIntire, proudly wore a “Huckabuck” shirt in his honor, ensuring his love for hunting was on display.
Most of all, his family says he loved to serve his community.
“Everything gives you a reminder. Images that run through your head constantly, randomly, that you can’t control,” said his brother-in-law, Matt Black.
On Sunday, motorcycles roared in McIntire’s name as family, friends and law enforcement rode together to remember his legacy. The route stretched through Sarver and Saxonburg before looping back through McIntire Way, the very road he lived on, and where he tragically lost his life.
“What’s running through my mind today? Family,” Black said.
This year, the ride carried a deeper meaning. The Thunder Run joined forces with AKV Back The Blue to raise money for two officers killed in Utah just weeks ago, as well as a K9 and his handler who were injured.
“I can’t tell you how grateful and thankful we are that the McIntire family was open to that, and it just shows what kind of people they are,” said Ron Balla, president of AKV Back The Blue.
For the McIntire family, helping others was never a question, especially given their own experience with loss.
“When you hear another law enforcement family go through it, once again it brings back all the memories,” Black said.
Organizers say it’s about remembrance, awareness and a promise to keep supporting those who put their lives on the line every day.
“We do what we can to honor the officers lost in the line of duty, and all first responders who are out there trying to keep our community safe,” Balla said.
If you weren’t able to make it to Sunday’s ride, AKV Back The Blue is still accepting donations. The McIntire family plans to continue to honor Justin’s name and legacy.
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