Steelers' TJ Watt Got Frustrated With 49ers' George Kittle's Behavior: 'You're Mine Baby'

The Pittsburgh Steelers opened up their 2023 season in brutal fashion at home against the San Francisco 49ers. The Steelers lost that game 30-7, and it was a harsh reality check for a fan base that believed Kenny Pickett might be ready to take over as the face of the franchise. While the offense struggled badly, TJ Watt still managed to shine with three sacks in an otherwise forgettable performance by the team.

Despite Watt’s strong showing on the field, 49ers tight end George Kittle later revealed that he was able to frustrate the Steelers' star during the game. Speaking on an episode of Bussin’ With The Boys, Kittle explained that his physical play and constant energy started to wear on Watt as the game went on. Kittle said the 49ers were doing everything they could to get under Watt’s skin, and it seemed to be working.

Kittle described the moment as a battle of wills and admitted that Watt was clearly frustrated during several points of the game. Even though Watt kept producing, the emotional toll was noticeable. Kittle made it clear that he respects Watt’s game and competitive fire, but said he enjoyed seeing a rare moment where one of the NFL’s most dominant defenders showed signs of being thrown off.

"There's a couple d-linemen that are always fun to play against," Kittle said. "JJ Watt was really fun to play against when he was with the Cardinals a couple of times because he just talks the whole game. And then TJ is fun too because we chipped on him every single play. We played them in Pittsburgh two years ago."

Kittle was clearly referring to that 2023 season opener in Pittsburgh, where the 49ers dominated the Steelers in front of a stunned home crowd. As usual, Watt drew constant attention, and the 49ers made it a priority to chip him throughout the game in an effort to slow down his pass rush. It was a physical, calculated approach that tested Watt’s patience from the opening snap.

According to Kittle, the 49ers were proud of the way they committed to disrupting Watt, using extra blockers to wear him down and limit his impact. However, even with all that attention, Watt still found a way to leave his mark. The only three plays where San Francisco didn’t chip him resulted in all three of Watt’s sacks, a stat that perfectly illustrates how dominant and disruptive he can be when not double-teamed or chipped.

That detail alone highlights just how impossible it is to stop Watt without serious effort and game planning. Even in a blowout loss, he proved once again that he’s a force offenses have to account for on every single snap.

"We won the game, but we chipped him every play except for three plays, and on those three plays, he had three sacks. And we chipped him the whole game, and he's so mad the whole game. He's like, 'Dude, leave me alone. I'm like, 'Never.' It's like, 'You're mine, baby. You're mine.'"

The end of the 2024 season did not go as planned for the Steelers, and certainly not for Watt. He was dealing with injuries that clearly affected his performance and limited his overall impact. It is rare for Watt to go multiple games without making splash plays, which only highlights how dominant he normally is when healthy and at full strength.

Steelers' TJ Watt Will Be Highly Motivated In 2025

The way the 2024 season ended has definitely left a bad taste in Watt’s mouth. He will be hungry to return in 2025 and prove once again why he is still the best defensive player in the league. No matter how many critics try to take that title away from him, Watt has always responded with intensity and production when his back is against the wall.

On top of his motivation to bounce back, Watt is also entering the final year of his contract in 2025. He is seeking a new deal from the Steelers, and that has created a bit of a complicated situation. Both sides want to get something done, but as of now, there is uncertainty about how negotiations will play out and whether the Steelers can secure their defensive leader for the long term.