Mike Tomlin’s separation from the Pittsburgh Steelers after 19 seasons appears to have shaken the team dynamics to a great extent. While the team management was already going through the challenges of hunting a new coach, their outside linebacker, T.J. Watt, also posed a massive threat. The Steelers’ all-time sack leader took a firm stance on a playing condition that he stated while signing the contract under Tomlin.

“It was huge in my contract talks. I don’t want to play for anyone other than Mike T,” T.J. Watt said, as reported by the Steelers’ Depot on X.

Tomlin’s impact on the locker room wasn’t just limited to the role of a head coach. Players, including Aaron Rodgers and T.J. Watt, are known to be closely connected to the 53-year-old, as reflected in the outside linebacker’s recent statement.

His condition dates back to the time when he joined the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2017. He was picked in the NFL Draft and therefore signed his rookie contract that year. Relying on his statement to play exclusively under coach Mike Tomlin, the conditions were decided when the Steelers agreed on a big new contract in July 2025. This was a three-year, $123 million extension, which made Watt one of the highest-paid defenders in NFL history.

The dedication towards Tomlin also stems from family roots. T.J. Watt’s brother and former Steelers star J.J. Watt also carried deep admiration for the head coach. During his time with the team, the DE also kept his stance on being a part of the team until Tomlin stayed.

A perfect example of T.J. Watt’s dedication to the former head coach was during a locker room leak. As Tomlin addressed the team for the last time during his farewell, both Watt and Aaron Rodgers were seen shedding tears. The Athletic conducted a deep dive into the locker room scenes of Tomlin’s last speech, and his co-players mentioned how all Watt could do was chant “No. No. No. No. No,” as he announced his exit.

Nevertheless, now that Tomlin is gone, the important question that arises here is: Will T.J. Watt leave, too?

Should T.J. Watt be traded?

The Steelers suddenly feel unpredictable as the offseason begins. With Mike Tomlin stepping away after 19 years, the team is entering a transition, and that has put even cornerstone players under the microscope. One of them is T.J. Watt, especially after former Steeler Chris Hoke publicly suggested trading him, considering that Watt said he only wanted to play for Tomlin.

Since Tomlin is gone, that statement naturally gets revisited, even though Watt would be playing for a new coach no matter what. Still, the most realistic outcome is that Pittsburgh keeps him, as he remains a major piece despite a slight dip in production and injuries last season. The uncertainty comes from the bigger picture, including who the next head coach is and the financial flexibility a trade could create, which is why Watt’s future feels less settled than it has in years.

T.J. Watt signed a three-year, $123 million extension last July, which showed the Steelers expected him to stay as a centerpiece of the defense. However, because of how the deal is structured, the team has flexibility if it decides to move on. If Pittsburgh were to trade him after June 1, they would clear about $32 million in salary-cap space while still carrying $10 million in dead money in 2026. So, while the contract signals commitment, it also gives the Steelers a financial escape route if a rebuild or new direction makes that move make sense.