(Photo by James Gill/Getty Images)
J.J. Watt was one of the best overall players in the game during his 12-year NFL career.
After being drafted in the first round back in 2011 by the Houston Texans, he would go on to become an All-Pro and a three-time Defensive Player of the Year.
After a decade in Houston, he played two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals before retiring at the age of 33.
While recently chatting with former players Matt Ryan and Nate Burleson, former head coach Bill Cowher, as well as CBS Sports insider Jonathan Jones, Watt detailed the moment when he realized that he wanted to retire.
“No matter who you are, no matter what position you play, no matter how good you are, it comes to an end for everybody…I would rather face (that realization) after a 12.5-sack season when I still felt good,” Watt said in front of the NFL on CBS crew.
When did @JJWatt, @M_Ryan02, and @nateburleson know it was time to hang it up?
The NFL Today Crew share their stories pic.twitter.com/JQDhT1jOEm
— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) July 26, 2024
Not many great players make the bold decision to retire after a great season.
Watt, a member of the NFL’s 2010s All-Decade Team, did exactly that after he put up 12.5 sacks in 2022 with Arizona.
He made the smart move and chose health and family over putting his body on the line every single week during the season.
The former Walter Payton Man of the Year also didn’t need to prove anything else.
After 114.5 career sacks and multiple seasons with at least 20 sacks, Watt easily proved that he was a Hall of Fame player.
Look for him to be a first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee into Canton when he immediately becomes eligible.
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