J.J. Watt: Texans Return Would Be ‘Incredible,’ Still ‘Content’ with NFL Retirement
Featured Columnist IVMay 8, 2024
James Gill/Getty Images
J.J. Watt closed the door on a spectacular NFL comeback with the Houston Texans.
Watt said Wednesday on The Pat McAfee Show that “the thought of playing football again is obviously incredible,” but he’s totally “content” in his retirement from football.
Pat McAfee @PatMcAfeeShow
“The thought of playing football again is obviously incredible..
Playing football is the best feeling in the world but I’m so content with where I’m at right now”@JJWatt #PMSLive https://t.co/2fHqv3LERt pic.twitter.com/a19W6BdsLB
Earlier comments made by the five-time All-Pro led some to wonder whether he might don a pair of shoulder pads again down the road. He told Brandon Scott of Sports Radio 610 at a charity event he had spoken with Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans and indicated “I’ll be there” if the team absolutely needed him.
B.Scott from Hiram Clarke @brandonkscott
I asked J.J. Watt how he resists the temptation to return to football, especially given the Texans’ rise. His answer was interesting.
Watt told DeMeco Ryans he’s still training and is ready if he absolutely needs it. pic.twitter.com/Z3gbfqjOA1
Watt continued to play at a reasonably high level in his final season; this wasn’t a case of the game effectively retiring him. He finished with 12.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss in 16 appearances with the Arizona Cardinals in 2022.
From that perspective, it’s easy to see why the 35-year-old may feel as though he has something left in the tank. He told McAfee there were moments when he second-guessed his choice to retire.
Still, Watt made it clear he has moved on from his playing days, and he certainly has plenty of endeavors to occupy his time. The future Hall of Famer got his broadcasting career underway with CBS Sports and branched out into team ownership by purchasing a minority stake in English soccer club Burnley.
