When a Pittsburgh Steelers legend speaks, the football world listens—especially when the topic is the future of one of the NFL's most dominant defenders. James Harrison, the iconic former Steelers outside linebacker, recently shared a bold prediction about when the team might part ways with current star T.J. Watt and his massive contract.
Harrison, who knows a thing or two about making game-changing plays from the edge, broke down the financial realities of Watt's deal during an appearance on the Deebo and Joe podcast. According to Harrison, the Steelers could look to move on from Watt once his guaranteed money runs out in 2028—a timeline that aligns with the pass rusher turning 34.
"T.J. has a lot of guaranteed money left on his contract," Harrison explained. "He has '26 and '27. 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."
The numbers paint a clear picture: $42 million fully guaranteed in both 2026 and 2027, followed by a $15 million roster bonus due on the third day of the 2028 league year—but no further guarantees. "I hate to say it, in all reality, I would see them releasing him in '28, along with him being 34 at the time," Harrison added.
Back in July 2025, Watt became the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history when he signed a three-year, $123 million extension. But the 2025 season didn't quite live up to that record-setting price tag. Watt failed to record at least eight sacks for only the third time in his nine-year career, leaving fans and analysts wondering if Father Time might be catching up to the perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
Still, if there's one thing we've learned from watching legends like Harrison himself, it's that great players find ways to bounce back. Here's hoping Watt can channel that same resilience this upcoming season and prove that every penny of his historic extension was well earned.
For now, Steelers Nation can only watch and wait—because in the NFL, contract predictions are almost as unpredictable as the game itself.