Most Expensive Contracts In Pittsburgh Steelers History

In 1994, the NFL introduced and enforced salary caps on NFL teams to foster competitiveness by putting a limit on spending. According to NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, “the salary cap helps protect the integrity of the game.” However, a look at team rosters reveal that clubs still go a little above and beyond financially to retain quality players, and the Pittsburgh Steelers have not been left behind in that regard. 

Despite not necessarily being the biggest spender in the league, this historic football club has been guilty of dishing out exorbitant contracts of its own over the years. Here, this article will highlight the most expensive contract in Steelers history along with the player performances to see if they're actually worth it. 

Do High Salaries Really Guarantee Performance?

The topic of whether salary does not necessarily affect performance is an age-old debate. However, it recently resurfaced when Deshaun Watson of the Cleveland Browns failed to deliver value despite being handed a guaranteed $230 million in 2022. This particular case was a real pot stir. So much so that the Cleveland Browns co-owner Jimmy Haslam revealed that “We took a big swing and miss with Deshaun. We thought we had the dream quarterback; we didn’t.” 

The Big Deals: Top Contract Signings in Stealers History

So, how have the top earners at Pittsburgh really fared on the pitch in comparison to their big checks? Here are the top 5 earners in Steelers history. 

5. Minkah Fitzpatrick

When Minkah Fitzpatrick signed his 4-year contract extension in 2022, it was worth $73.6 million (101 million CAD), with $36 million guaranteed. This contract was financial history in the making because it made him the highest-paid safety in NFL history at the time. It eventually paid off, however, as Minkah proved to be worth every penny for the Steelers. Before his surprise trade in 2025, he made a habit of putting in exceptional performances every now and then, even earning multiple Pro Bowl selections for good measure. 

4. Diontae Johnson

Diontae became one of the highest earners in franchise history back in 2022 when he signed his 2-year extension reportedly worth around $36.71 million, or 50.5 million in the Canadian loonie. That meant he earned $18.65 million that year and in the year that followed without necessarily living up to expectations. Of course, Diontae had his moments before leaving Pittsburgh in 2023.

Off the field, Diontae has shown that he can attract deals from brands. And all this points to the fact that top athletes are getting the attention of brands. Although he doesn’t currently have one with a casino brand, one might be in the pipeline on any of the new casino online in Canada from the list with a deal to recreate sports themed games tailored to his identity. 

3. Ben Roethlisberger

Talk about arguably the most influential quarterback in the Steelers modern history, and Roethlisberger is a name that's sure to pop up. Big Ben’s importance for the franchise was never in doubt, and it became even more evident when they broke the bank to keep him in 2015.

The contract extension saw him earn about $21.8 million (CAD 30 million) per year, making him one of the highest-paid QBs in the league. But with one world-class performance after the other, Ben made sure to show the entire NFL that he was the man, and he was worth every penny. 

2. Ben Roethlisberger (again)

The now-retired quarterback was something of a legend in Pittsburgh, and his value was quite evident in the paychecks. After his 2015 extension saw him become one of the league's highest-paid quarterbacks, he went on to sign an even more lucrative one in 2019. The Pittsburgh Steelers offered him a mouthwatering $68 million (CAD 94 million) to stay on the team for two more years. Getting an outrageous contract like that is one thing, but getting it at 37 puts a whole new perspective to it, and highlights how much his ability, leadership, and experience are valued in this team. 

1. TJ Watt

Pittsburgh’s All-Pro edge rusher TJ Watt became the league's highest-paid defensive player in 2021 when he signed a 4-year extension valued at $112 million (CAD 154 million). However, Watt was quick to show his value as he almost immediately tied the NFL record for the most sacks in a single season while also going on to win the defensive player of the year award in 2021. He then signed a three-year contract extension in the 2025 offseason where he now makes roughly $41 million per year.

Conclusion

The NFL has witnessed its fair share of extraordinarily expensive contracts, and for franchises, getting the best out of these high earners often counts for much. While a few top buck collectors at Pittsburgh have failed to really light up the crowd, the majority have exceptionally lived up to the billing.