T.J. Watt believes the Pittsburgh Steelers’ new-look defence can keep opposing offences guessing under defensive coordinator Patrick Graham.
Watt says the focus this summer has been turning Graham’s ideas into one cohesive unit, with the Steelers preparing to use more movement within their familiar 3-4 structure.
The change comes after Pittsburgh’s defence finished 26th in total defence in 2025. Despite having plenty of talent, the unit struggled to consistently turn that into disruption.
T.J. Watt explains how Patrick Graham plans to keep offences guessing
Speaking at the beginning of training camp, Watt explained what Graham has been working on with the Steelers.
‘I think the spring and the summer were more about him (Patrick Graham) introducing his system and what he expects out of his defense, what he likes, what he doesn’t like, and then this fall is when we make that a cohesive unit and try to get everyone on the same page,’ Watt said.
The four-time first-team All-Pro also made it clear that Pittsburgh will not be abandoning its traditional identity.
‘I think, at the end of the day, it’s a 3-4 defense, Pittsburgh Steelers. It’s a very dynamic group.
We’re going to be moving around, like I said, just trying to keep offenses on their toes so we can’t be too predictable.’
That flexibility could be particularly important for Watt.
The Steelers’ star has spent much of his career attacking from the left side, giving offences a clear idea of where one of their biggest threats will be. Last season, he took just 10 snaps from the right side.
Under Graham, that could change.
Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig are expected to move around the defensive front, with players learning multiple responsibilities rather than remaining tied to one position.
For opposing quarterbacks, that creates another problem before the ball is even snapped. If Watt can line up in different spots, protection schemes become harder to set up.
Graham’s philosophy is built around using the players available to him rather than forcing them into one system.
‘There’s no Pat Graham playbook,’ Graham told The Athletic in 2024. ‘Yeah, there’s stuff that comes from my New England time, my time at Green Bay. But to me, it’s all about who do you have? What pieces do you have?’
Watt believes the Steelers have the pieces. Now they need to make the system work together.
‘We wanna play our best football as the season goes on and try to find ways to stay fresh and healthy down the road,’ he said.
If Pittsburgh can combine its defensive talent with Graham’s unpredictability, Watt and company could give offences a very different problem to solve in 2026.
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