Long before TJ Watt became a defensive star in Pittsburgh, the Pewaukee, Wisconsin-born athlete would compete with his two older brothers on wrestling mats in their basement, play ice hockey, and even throw some kicks in backyard football. In fact, the Pittsburgh Penguins fan and Phil Kessel wanted to try his luck on the rink before the gridiron.

However, as the economy stood, having three boys who wanted to play the expensive sport was not exactly feasible. And so, the skates got yanked from right under his feet and replaced with cleats. The youngest Watt brother got the least time chasing the puck. With fatherhood settling in for the soon-to-be 31-year-old and his ninth year in Pittsburgh approaching, the word ‘retirement’ is no longer a distant thought for Watt. And he plans on pursuing his childhood dream after he hangs up his cleats, as he recently revealed.

As he sat down with Graham Bensinger, TJ Watt talked about his love for hockey and making it to the AAA team, but having to switch to football. “I loved hockey. I really did. I still, to this day, love hockey. (…) I think beer league would be the most fun to do after I’m done playing. But yeah, I finally made AAA and, like I said before, it was such a tough sport to have three boys (in), especially at that age, because you’re at different levels and getting pulled in different directions.

“And by the time I made it, I even got my breezers and the jersey and everything. And a kid came and knocked on the door, and I’m like, ‘I’ve to hand over my breezers and jersey to this kid. Like whatever, man.’ Those things, I’m really jealous of JJ and Derek got to experience AAA hockey, and JJ got to travel Germany with my grandpa and dad and have those stories. I felt shorted in that expect. (…) I felt like I was pretty damn good at hockey, and obviously, JJ and Derek were really good too. Hindsight, again, it’s a tough, it’s an expensive sport. And it worked out well, so I can’t be too upset.”

From just two years old to eleven, TJ Watt, a center then, was almost certain that he wanted to be in hockey. He would’ve even liked to be in the NHL. The soaring cost of travel and equipment for all three brothers pushed them into football. But even as one of the NFL’s most decorated defenders, TJ Watt’s love for hockey never faded. A viral clip from 2023 showed him locked in, playing NHL on his console, eyes burning with the same competitive fire he brings to Heinz Field. Just like his brothers did.

JJ Watt, the oldest of the three, was considered a great defensive end with 5x Pro Bowl nods, 5x All-Pro selections, and a plethora of defensive awards. He played for the Houston Texans until 2020 and ended his career with Arizona two years later. Derek, similarly, played seven years in the NFL, sharing his last three seasons in the NFL as a fullback with TJ and the Steelers.

Although TJ’s now the Steelers’ all-time sack leader, the hockey itch never left. That’s why his beer league dream hits so hard. He knows if his production dips, like it did late in 2024 while he pushed through an ankle sprain, that’s the cue to walk away on his terms. For now, it’s not his time to walk into the sunset.

Retirement? Not too soon for the Steeler

The word ‘retirement’ might be floating in T.J. Watt’s head, but Pittsburgh just slammed the brakes on any farewell tour talk. In July, the Steelers locked their monster off the edge into a three-year, $123 million extension, making Watt the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL at that time. Think about that!

His $41 million a year was more than Myles Garrett’s $160M/4-year deal, more than Ja’Marr Chase’s $40.3 million average. And the timing? Perfect. Watt is 30, still terrifying left tackles, and Pittsburgh isn’t about to let their all-time sack leader slip into memory.

The Steelers knew what they were paying for. Seven straight Pro Bowls, four All-Pro nods, and a résumé stacked with 108 sacks, 33 forced fumbles, 462 tackles (126 for loss), and 7 interceptions. That’s not just production; that’s a defensive empire. Watt has lived in the same sentence as Myles Garrett for years, and yet he keeps finding ways to tilt the conversation back to black and gold. He’s the standard-bearer for an organization that builds its identity on defense.

Now here’s the kicker: Watt’s extension is like a bet on the storm still inside him. Last season, even with an injured ankle, he cranked out 11.5 sacks and 6 forced fumbles. Solid numbers by anyone else’s standard—but for Watt? That was a slow burn. Steelers insider Mark Kaboly isn’t shy about it either: “He’s going to have 20 sacks this year.” Twenty. Do you feel the weight of that?

If he gets there, it’s more than a comeback. In 2025, he might just remind the league why you never underestimate a man who’s still chasing ghosts from the ice rink. But isn’t it good to know he already has a plan in place if he ever steps out of the NFL?