Pittsburgh Steelers 2021 Exit Interviews: T.J. Watt and Derrek Tuszka

The Pittsburgh Steelers 2021 NFL season has come to a close. Because the Steelers are among the 31 teams who did not finish fulfilling their ultimate goal, they are in the process of wrapping up their season and moving forward into 2022.

Since the Steelers conduct exit interviews with all their players, we here at BTSC thought we would do the same. By outlining two players each day, we will be able to look at their season in retrospect as well as looking toward the future. Since Coach Tomlin stated he starts his interviews with rookies, first year players, and those heading into free agency, we will do the same. To start, we will pair a potential free agent with a first-year player as we work through this process to eventually cover the entire Steelers roster.

Next up is outside linebackers T.J. Watt and Derrek Tuszka.

T.J. Watt

Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Position: Outside linebacker
Years with the Steelers: 5
Years in the NFL: 5
Contract Status: Signed through 2025
Contract Details: $31,118,694 salary cap hit for 2022. Would cost the Steelers $72,474,777 in dead money if released.
Games played in 2021: 15 regular season, 1 postseason
Games started in 2021: 15 regular season, 1 postseason
Snaps (regular season): 758 (defense), 32 (special teams)
PFF score: 89.6 (6th of 109)
Notable stats (regular season): Watt had 64 tackles, 21 of which were for loss, 39 quarterback hits, 22.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and seven passes defense.

Notes: Fresh off of his AP Defensive Player of the Year award, there’s not much to say for an exit interview for T.J. Watt. Stay focused, keep doing what you do, and continue to be the best defensive player in the NFL. That’s all that needs said.

Derrek Tuszka

Photo by Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Position: Outside linebacker
Years with the Steelers: 1
Years in the NFL: 2
Contract Status: Signed through 2022
Contract Details: $895,000 salary cap hit for 2022. Would cost the Steelers nothing in dead money if released.
Games played in 2021: 15 regular season, 1 postseason
Games started in 2021: None
Snaps (regular season): 247 (defense), 194 (special teams)
PFF score: 63.7 (DNQ for ranking)
Notable stats (regular season): Tuszka had 18 tackles, one of which was for loss, two quarterback hits, 2.0 sacks, and one forced fumble.

Notes: Derrek Tuszka ended up being a bit of a pleasant surprise for the Steelers in 2021 as his addition made Jamir Jones expendable and basically an afterthought as the season rolled on. It’s not that Tuszka is going to go out set the world on fire at the outside linebacker position, but he offered quality play in limited action, especially for the price. As for 2022, Tuszka has no guarantee of making the roster should the Steelers add other quality players at the position, but likely will still be in the mix come September.

So what do you think? How would you conduct Watt’s and Tuszka’s exit interview? Please leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Make sure you check back each day for another set of exit interviews. If you have missed any of the previous articles, they are listed here:

Ben Roethlisberger & Najee Harris
Eric Ebron & Pat Freiermuth
Trai Turner & Kendrick Green
Chuks Okorafor & Dan Moore Jr.
Robert Spillane & Buddy Johnson
Montravius Adams & Isaiahh Loudermilk
Joe Haden & Tre Norwood
Christian Kuntz & Pressley Harvin
JuJu Smith-Schuster & Cody White
J.C. Hassenauer & John Leglue
Marcus Allen & Tegray Scales
James Washington & Chase Claypool
Taco Charlton & Alex Highsmith
Ahkello Witherspoon & James Pierre
B.J. Finney & Kevin Dotson
Kalen Ballage & Anthony McFarland
Stephon Tuitt & Carlos Davis
Ray-Ray McCloud & Diontae Johnson
Terrell Edmunds & Miles Killebrew
Dwayne Haskins & Joshua Dobbs
Arthur Maulet & Justin Layne
Cam Heyward & Henry Mondeaux