Steelers Finally Uncovered What Really Caused TJ Watt's Struggles In 2025 Season

Pittsburgh Steelers star pass rusher TJ Watt has been the heartbeat of this franchise for years. Even during seasons when Pittsburgh's offense ranked among the NFL's worst and struggled to put points on the board, Watt's ability to create game-changing plays kept the Steelers competitive. His knack for forcing turnovers, generating sacks, and delivering in clutch moments helped the team stay afloat, even when the offense couldn't match the level of greatness he brought to the defense.

That's why, when Aaron Rodgers decided to join the Steelers for the 2025 season, many expected the offense to finally take some pressure off the defense. Rodgers did a respectable job leading the unit, but in a shocking twist, it was Pittsburgh's heavily invested defense that repeatedly came up short. Time and time again, the Steelers surrendered explosive plays and failed to get critical stops in the biggest moments.

Former defensive coordinator Teryl Austin received plenty of criticism, as did former head coach Mike Tomlin. Now, with Mike McCarthy taking over as head coach and Patrick Graham stepping in as defensive coordinator, Pittsburgh is hoping for a major turnaround on that side of the ball in 2026.

One of the biggest storylines has been Watt's unexpected decline. In the eyes of many fans, and in the numbers, his production has taken a significant step back over the past two seasons. After recording 11.5 sacks in 2024, Watt finished with a seven-year low of just 7.0 sacks in 2025. His pass-rush win rate also dipped to 11.7%, a drop that saw ESPN move him from the No. 2 edge rusher in football all the way down to No. 7 in its annual rankings. So what happened? Steelers insider Brooke Pryor recently offered an explanation to ESPN, shedding light on what she believes has fueled Watt's steep decline.

"I think he was hurt because he would not move from the left side," Pryor said on Thursday morning of Watt's down 2025 season. "And that was this talk all preseason, all training camp. He was gonna vary his rush position, they were gonna mix things up. They did not mix things up."

Heading into the 2025 season, there was plenty of discourse surrounding Watt. Many believed he had become too predictable for opposing offenses, as he often lined up on the same side of the formation. That sparked discussions about whether the Steelers should move him around more frequently to create favorable matchups and generate pressure in different ways. Ultimately, that never happened.

Instead, Watt battled through adversity for much of the season. Along with what Pryor believes may have been an undisclosed injury that affected him well before the year ended, Watt also suffered the freak punctured lung incident caused during a medical procedure by the team's doctors. It was a season filled with obstacles, and those circumstances likely played a role in the sharp decline in his production.

Steelers' Watt Looking To Remind NFL World Of His Greatness In 2026

Now, entering the 2026 season, Watt has plenty of motivation to remind the NFL that he's still one of the league's premier pass rushers. While age has naturally become part of the conversation, a healthy offseason and a fresh start under a new coaching staff could give him every opportunity to bounce back. 

If he can stay healthy, the Steelers will be counting on Watt to return to the dominant force that has anchored their defense for nearly a decade.

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