Having played on the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2017 to 2021, this former teammate of T.J. Watt knows a thing or two about the 30-year-old pass rusher. Watt has spent his entire career in Pittsburgh, debuting in 2017.
Despite the contract disputes and Watt being one of the key players sitting out of practice, a retired NFL player is weighing in on the ongoing situation.
Joe Haden Says Steelers Would Be ‘Ridiculous’ To Let T.J. Watt Walk
After starting his career in Cleveland, Joe Haden joined the Steelers just as Watt was beginning his own. From the jump, Watt made an impact, and Haden knew right away the Wisconsin product was special. He’s confident the two sides will work something out, no matter how tense things may seem.
“He’s not going anywhere. That would be ridiculous!”
Joe Haden is confident the Steelers and T.J. Watt will get a deal done.@heykayadams | @joehaden23 pic.twitter.com/Qq6L5tFq5x
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) June 12, 2025
“All I know is that ‘T.J. Swatt’ is not going anywhere,” Haden said. “The Swattster is not going anywhere. He’s like a Cam Heyward. At the end of the day, they’re going to work it out. Sometimes money gets a little funny, but with the relationships T.J. Watt has in the locker room, he’s not going anywhere; that would be ridiculous. What does that look like for anyone else?”
The three-time Pro Bowler added, “If it’s about a couple dollars, you have the money to give T.J. Watt a couple of dollars. I don’t care who it is. Just for franchise-wise, from the outside looking in, there’s no chance T.J. Watt isn’t playing for the Steelers at the start of the season. Zero.”
Haden doesn’t necessarily believe the deal will be finalized anytime soon. The Steelers have a history of holding off until late in the preseason. In 2020, Pittsburgh didn’t get something done with Cam Heyward until days before the regular season.
But the longer the delay, the less time Watt has at practice. He’s a veteran, so he knows what he’s doing, but like most sports, it’s a team effort. Watt holding in hurts the defense as a whole.
Watt was one of many star NFL players who opted out of (voluntary) OTAs and mandatory minicamp. He’s in the final season of a four-year, $112 million contract, but, like any player of his caliber, wants to be paid what he’s worth.
KEEP READING: Steelers HC Mike Tomlin Breaks Silence on T.J. Watt’s Ongoing Contract Dispute
The Steelers just gave Aaron Rodgers a one-year, $13.65 million deal, including a $10 million signing bonus and $10 million guaranteed. Watt, who’s played in all 17 games in back-to-back seasons, knows he could land a massive extension elsewhere if Pittsburgh decides to move on.
But that kind of move would shake the foundation of the franchise. Loyalty suddenly wouldn’t matter as much as money. Haden remains confident that Watt will be back, and Steelers fans are hoping he’s right. The team needs to lock up their defensive anchor before it’s too late.