TJ Watt airs out frustration after Steelers playoff loss to Ravens

Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher TJ Watt knows things need to change if the team wants to take the next step and win a Super Bowl. After the Steelers’ playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday night, Watt expressed his frustration about being eliminated from the postseason again.

“It gets more and more frustrating as the years go by,” Watt said on Monday while speaking to reporters, via The Athletic‘s Mike DeFabo. “Tough conversations need to be had. We can’t keep doing the same thing and expect different results. That’s starting with myself.”

The Steelers finished the regular season with a 10-7 record but suffered their sixth consecutive playoff loss on Saturday. Watt was a big key to the Steelers’ success in the regular season, recording 61 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks and an NFL-leading six fumbles in 2024. His production this season led to him being named to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro Second Team.

TJ Watt does not want to leave the Steelers

“It’s tough. Sit here same time as last year, same time have been in this scrum,” Watt said. “Same questions, and I had the same answers. Obviously, I’m very frustrated with how things ended. That’s not just with the last game, that’s with the last month of football. It’s a collection of things and it starts with myself. I need to play better. We need to play better.

“There’s not one thing that needs to be fixed here. There’s a lot of things. But it starts internally with myself. Need to play better in bigger moments. It’ll be a long offseason to have to sit with that.”

Despite the struggles the Steelers are having in the playoffs, Watt has no intentions of leaving the team anytime soon. “I want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler,” Watt said. “You guys know that. I don’t want to leave this place, especially in this (state).

“I want to be part of the solution. I’ve put so much into it here. I’ve seen so many guys. I want to help Cam Heyward get to where we need to get. I want to be a part of the solution. I don’t want to leave this place. I love the people here, and that goes beyond just the coaches. It’s the fan base, it’s the people, the community. We owe it to them to get it right. And I want to be part of the solution. Not leave here, go somewhere else.”

TJ Watt has been with the Steelers since 2017, and his current contract runs through the 2025 season. In his career, the former Wisconsin star has been named to the Pro Bowl seven times, selected to the All-Pro Team six times and won the Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2021.