The beloved pass rusher was released by the Houston Texans on Friday after 10 years with the team, a move both designed to give both the player and organization a fresh start.
For the first time in his NFL career, defensive end J.J. Watt will be switching teams. The beloved pass rusher was released by the Houston Texans Friday after 10 years with the team, a move both designed to give both the player and organization a fresh start. Wherever Watt lands, he takes with him an impressive resume: he’s a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, a five-time first-team All-Pro and has 101 career sacks, twice leading the league in a single season. Over the past five years, the 31-year-old has missed significant portions of three seasons due to injuries. Still, his two fully healthy seasons — in 2018 and 2020 — showed just how valuable Watt can be. In 2018, he had 16 sacks and seven forced fumbles, and this past season, he had 52 tackles,14 tackles for loss and five sacks. Watt, who’s known for his kindhearted nature and philanthropic nature, took to social media to share a heartfelt thanks for Texans fans on Friday morning. Houston, I wanted you to hear this directly from me… pic.twitter.com/YqT3P6Lb6l “I came here 10 years ago as a kid from Wisconsin who had never really been to Texas before, and now I can’t imagine my life without Texas in it,” he said in a video shared on Twitter. “The way that you guys have treated me — besides draft night, I mean you guys booed me on draft night — but every day after that, you’ve treated me like family, and I truly feel like you’re my family. “Since that day I have tried to do everything in my power to work and earn your respect and make you proud on and off the field. You guys have given me everything and more, and I can only hope that you feel that I’ve given everything I have.” Watt married former Alta High soccer star Kealia Ohai last year, and the two met through their time in Houston.
