Steelers President Art Rooney's grandson slams paying T.J. Watt as 'insane'

Yahoo

16-07-2025

Everyone has an opinion on whether or not the Steelers should break the bank on T.J. Watt — and that includes Patrick Rooney Jr.
Patrick, grandson of Steelers president Art Rooney II, recently gave his two cents on the contractual situation that's taken Steel City headlines by storm. On Wednesday's Palm Beach Kennel Club Picks podcast, Rooney completely dismissed the idea of paying Watt at a premium on a new extension:
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'T.J. is a great player, great Steeler — insane to pay him anything right now,' Rooney said. 'Absolutely insane. He's 31 years old. But again, if you're going all-in this year, then you're going to have to re-sign him. You're making moves right now that you're trying to do something this year. That, to me, based on anything you've seen the last few years, seems insane.'
Watt wasn't the only Steeler Pat Rooney Jr. took aim at — he also categorized new Steelers DK Metcalf and Jalen Ramsey as 'headcases.'
It's worth mentioning that Patrick isn't part of the Steelers front office and has no authority in organizational decisions, but it's still an intriguing take from a member of one of the most prestigious families in all of sports.
Regardless, insiders agree that Watt could be set to become the highest-paid defender in the league — with some even predicting he could become the highest-paid non-QB in the NFL.
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This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers' T.J. Watt extension slammed as 'insane' by Pat Rooney Jr.