The Pittsburgh Steelers just proved to the greater football world they had no business matching up against the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, losing in embarrassing fashion, 30-6.
Now, the Black and Gold head into an offseason filled with questions, most of them surrounding whether or not head coach Mike Tomlin returns with the franchise after announcing a sabbatical and whether quarterback Aaron Rodgers will ultimately call it a career.
Yet there are plenty of additional questions, too, including the future of star All-Pro edge rusher T.J. Watt.
The San Francisco 49ers, who desperately need more pass-rushing help after finishing dead last in sacks during the regular season, should be paying attention to would-be answers to any Watt question.
Watt has clearly grown frustrated with the lack of postseason success in Pittsburgh, and his postgame presser did nothing to suggest he's happy with how things have gone in this department over the years.
T.J. Watt on what needs to change about this team to have success in the postseason:
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) January 13, 2026
"I haven't had the answer for a long time, so don't ask me."
Watt has yet to be part of a postseason win, as his Steelers are 0-5 in the postseason over his otherwise stellar career.
And that's where the Niners come into play.
T.J. Watt would be 49ers' dream trade target (if Steelers make him available)
Go back through all of 2025, especially after San Francisco's top pass-rusher, Nick Bosa, was lost for the season to a torn ACL, and you'll find all kinds of clamoring for another upper-end threat who can get to opponents' quarterbacks.
The Cincinnati Bengals' Trey Hendrickson might have been the most popular name, and he's a pending free agent in 2026, provided Cincy doesn't hit him with a franchise tag.
But Watt, who owns the superior résumé of the two, would be the find of finds, if the 49ers somehow managed to get him.
Could they?
Signed through 2029, should Pittsburgh decide a full-scale teardown is necessary, moving the 31-year-old veteran for a chunk of future assets could easily be the play. According to Over the Cap, the Steelers would absorb $30 million in dead salary for 2026 against $12 million in cap savings. But, by netting a hefty compensation package in return while also granting Watt a desire to play for a perennial playoff powerhouse, it might be worthwhile.
Now, the Niners would have to give up a lot to make it happen. Scheduled to pick late in Round 1 of the upcoming NFL Draft, it'd likely take a multi-pick package to acquire Watt and pair him with Bosa.
Whatever the price would be, though, would be happily absorbed by San Francisco fans imagining a pass-rushing tandem of those two, though.
Dream? Yes. But dreams occasionally come true.