Wisconsin Nails it With Reaction to T.J. Watt's Historic NFL Contract originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Pittsburgh Steelers have finally addressed one of their biggest sagas in the offseason, with the AFC North franchise handing superstar linebacker T.J. Watt a massive three-year contract extension worth $123 million.

Watt's extension will pay him an average of $41 million annually, putting him ahead of Bengals receiver Ja'Marr Chase ($40.25 million) and Browns pass rusher Myles Garrett ($40 million) in terms of the highest average annual salaries among non-quarterbacks.

Watt, 30, had 11.5 sacks a season ago and dealt with multiple injuries that cooled him off down the stretch. Before the injuries, Watt was the odds-on favorite to win the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year Award, which would have been his second in a storied career.