Pittsburgh Steelers superstar pass rusher, TJ Watt has racked up 108 sacks in his career. He’s turned into one of the greatest defensive players to ever play the game. Before every game, Watt gives a fiery pregame speech to fire up his defense. The speech has been known in the past for Watt to have so much passion and energy behind it that he pushes himself to the extreme during it.
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Steelers' TJ Watt celebrates after a massive sack during a home game in Pittsburgh.
He always talks about how he blacks out during the speech. While speaking on Randy Baumann and the DVE Morning Show on Friday, Watt revealed that when his brother Derek Watt was on the team, he helped him avoid passing out, but he doesn’t have that anymore.
Watt explained that the tradition of giving these speeches started early in his career and quickly became a staple in the Steelers’ locker room. His teammates feed off the energy, but the intensity takes a toll on him physically. Admitting that he nearly passes out every time he gets that worked up shows just how much he invests in rallying the defense before kickoff. Having Derek nearby was a stabilizing force for him, but with his brother no longer there, Watt admitted it has become more challenging to find balance between passion and composure.
"[Laughs], you know, it always sounds like a great idea until I give the speech and I am right back in the same situation every time," Watt said while talking about blacking out during his pregame speeches. "When my brother Derek was here, I used to go over to him and be like, 'Bro, you gotta hold me up, I feel like I am gonna pass out, I went a little too hard.'"
For a player who leaves everything on the field, Watt’s confession highlights the thin line between emotional fuel and physical exhaustion. His willingness to risk his own well-being before games speaks volumes about his leadership and his dedication to the team.
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Steelers star edge rushed TJ Watt sacks Titans QB Will Levis during a primetime game in Pittsburgh.
It also reveals a very human side of a player often viewed as almost superhuman on the field. With his legacy already cemented as one of the game’s great defenders, this story only deepens the respect Steelers fans and teammates have for him.
"I don’t have him to do that with anymore, so I have to be a little more tame so I don’t pass out right before kickoff," Watt said.
Even without Derek by his side now, Watt continues to embrace the responsibility of being the emotional heartbeat of the Steelers’ defense. His teammates look to him for that spark, and he refuses to let them down.
Steelers' TJ Watt Knows How To Set The Tone
It’s a reminder that leadership in the NFL isn’t just about making plays on the field; it is about setting the tone mentally and emotionally before the first snap is even taken. Watt’s passion in those moments carries over into the way the defense plays, and it’s a big reason why the Steelers consistently rank among the league’s toughest units.
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Steelers outside linebacker TJ Watt (90) during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
At the end of the day, Watt’s pregame speeches have become just as legendary as his dominance off the edge. Steelers fans already know what kind of effort he brings every Sunday, but hearing about the physical toll his passion takes shows just how much he’s willing to sacrifice for his team. Whether he’s chasing down quarterbacks or pushing himself to the brink during a pregame speech, Watt is the definition of a leader who gives everything he has for the black and gold.
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