108 sacks, 461 combined tackles, 225 QB hits, 33 forced fumbles in just eight seasons are probably the numbers you can stack in a game of Madden. Playing at an amateurish level with a high OVR card could pull in those numbers for you. Like, don’t you feel those productions are a bit unrealistic in the NFL? Well, of course, they look unrealistic, but Steelers star pass rusher TJ Watt has made it a reality. Wearing the crown of the franchise’s all-time sack leader. Watt is expected to try out different roles next season. Looks like the 30-year-old isn’t satisfied with a role he has already mastered. He wants to do more if the Steelers allow him to.

After the season ended with him not getting a single sack in 5 straight games, including the wildcard loss to the Ravens, Watt expressed his desire to change a bit of his playing style. “Teams are playing certain ways with chips and helps and things like that and getting the ball out quick. I need to be more open to moving around. I’m trying to affect games as much as possible.” Clearly, Watt is concerned about his sudden drop in numbers. After coming off a season where he led the league with 19 sacks and 36 QB hits, Watt only mustered 11.5 sacks and 27 QB hits last season.

Yes, those numbers might have earned him his 7th Pro Bowl. However, it clearly wasn’t enough for him to earn a 5th First-team All-Pro. Watt found himself relegated to the second-team All-Pro, which shows he wasn’t explosive enough. Actually, the whole Steelers pass rush suffered last season, not just TJ Watt. They only managed 40 sacks, their lowest since 2016. Maybe that’s why Watt is willing to adapt new ways to make an impact on the game. Like he is too big of a player not to contribute from the front. But amid all the negatives there was one positive that the Steelers took away last season.

Their outside linebackers hauled in 25 sacks, which could be something the Steelers could build on in 2025. And while they try to figure out a possible new role for their star pass rusher, it seems Mike Tomlin has some other priorities. He could be more invested in fixing his QB room amid constant uncertainty with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields’ future.

Mike Tomlin leaves a lasting impression on Quinn Ewers

See, the Steelers are still undecided about whom they want as their QB in 2025. Sometimes reports suggest they are zeroing in on Russell Wilson. Sometimes unrealistic rumors surface like the one where Matthew Stafford was linked with the Steelers. And there’s also the case of Justin Fields. Who clearly has all the traits (young and a lot of potential to grow) to be the Steelers’ No.1 next season. However, with everything that’s going on in their never-ending QB drama. Mike Tomlin had some other interest at the Combine. Texas Longhorns QB Quinn Ewers, who met with more than 7 teams in Indy, revealed one thing that stood out for him the most.

Speaking with CBS Sports Aditi Kinkhabwala, Ewers was surprised by Tomlin’s interest in his academics. Like he wasn’t just interested in knowing Ewers’ knowledge about the game. Tomlin equally emphasized Texas’s QB’s GPA. “It was great getting to talk to coach Tomlin and just get to know him a little bit, him getting to know me. It was funny, we started talking about my major. He wanted to know what it is, kind of what like my final GPA was. He just wrote it down in his notebook.”

Well, it seems like Tomlin doesn’t want to restrict his search for a new QB to just the gridiron. Clearly, he wants to know whether his next QB had the traits of juggling both his academics and his skills as a footballer equally. Only that will make him stand out from the rest in Tomlin’s eyes at the Combine. Like they say, you need to have that X-factor to make an impression. Because there is already enough competition in the QB market. So, young QB prospects out there—Listen up! Once you are done with your gridiron plays. Ensure you don’t miss out on your classes. Otherwise, a low GPA could put your NFL dream on hold at least in Pittsburgh.