How many sacks will T.J. Watt record in 2026?
Towards the end of the 2024 season, T.J. Watt went on a bit of a cold streak. He didn’t have a bad season, playing in all 17 games and recording 11.5 sacks. However, he didn’t record any sacks in five of the last seven games of that season.
The Steelers then gave Watt a massive contract extension before the 2025 season, one which made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league the moment he signed it. But Watt didn’t record a sack during the first two games of the year, and finished the season with just seven total. All things considered, Watt didn’t exactly play up to par considering the massive extension he received.
That might not be all Watt’s fault, though. For one, he missed a handful of games with a freak lung issue. He got back on the field by Week 18, but it’s hard to imagine he was back to full strength at that time. Apart from that, the defensive issues the Steelers faced last year were widespread. The pass rushers were held quiet at times. But it’s not like they were getting any help from the rest of the defense.
Throughout Watt’s career, many Steelers fans have hoped he’d move around the line a bit more. The Steelers flirted with that idea before the 2025 season, but things were once again stagnant. If the Steelers are more unpredictable with Watt, that could certainly help. It would at least force opposing offenses to plan for him differently.
But Mike Tomlin and Teryl Austin are both gone now. And with Patrick Graham running the unit, there could finally be some meaningful change. Graham has been forced to be flexible throughout his career as a defensive coordinator. He’s gotten the most out of some talentless units in Las Vegas in recent years. If there’s anybody who can throw another wrinkle into this defense, and potentially get more out of a player like Watt, it’s probably Graham and the new ideas he’ll bring.
Father Time eventually catches everyone, and that’s a conversation that needs to be had with Watt. He’s going to be 32 next season. And since his 2023 season, which saw him lead the league in sacks with 19, his production in both sacks and tackles for a loss has dropped over the last two seasons.
It’s hard to ignore the idea that age may be catching up with him. But he also recorded seven sacks in just 14 games last year. If he can play a full season and find some new life with Graham, he may finish a little above that total.
The Steelers have a long road ahead of them under Mike McCarthy, along with his cadre of quarterbacks.With seven consecutive postseason losses and no wins in nearly a decade, they are under fire for their repeated playoff failures. While we have seen many changes, none could dream of topping Mike Tomlin resigning.
We’re already deep into the offseason, with free agency and the draft already reshaping rosters. The Steelers, of course, are used to early offseason mode as a team thatloses by the middle of January all the time. Enjoy the ride, even the turbulence, because it’s the only way we know how to travel anymore.
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