When a Steelers legend speaks about another iconic defender's future, the football world listens. James Harrison, the heart and soul of Pittsburgh's defense for over a decade, has made a bold prediction about when the team might move on from current star T.J. Watt.

It's no secret that Watt, despite being one of the NFL's most dominant pass rushers, has experienced a dip in production by his sky-high standards. After posting a league-leading 19 sacks in 2023 and earning Defensive Player of the Year honors, Watt signed a massive $123 million extension. However, the last two seasons have told a different story: a combined 18.5 sacks, with just seven in the 2025 campaign.

This decline has sparked conversation about whether the Steelers could part ways with their superstar edge rusher. While such a move seems unlikely this year, Harrison believes it's only a matter of time.

"T.J. has a lot of guaranteed money left on his contract," Harrison explained on the Deebo and Joe show. "He has [2026] and [2027] left. I don't see him going anywhere unless they could potentially get something for him in a trade, because I don't see anybody taking a $42 million cap hit in each year. So, I hate to say it, in all reality, I would see them releasing him in [2028], along with him being 34 at the time."

Harrison's analysis makes financial sense. The Steelers would face an astronomical $94 million in dead cap if they released Watt in 2026. That number drops to $52 million in 2027, and then significantly to just $10 million in 2028—making that year the most realistic window for a split.

For now, Watt remains the face of Pittsburgh's defense, and his prime years are still within reach. But as Harrison knows well from his own journey with the team, even legends eventually see their time come to an end. The question isn't if the Steelers will move on, but when—and by Harrison's timeline, the clock is already ticking.