Defensive superstar J.J. Watt and individuals associated with the Houston Texans have teased this spring that Watt could end his playing retirement and enjoy a second run with the organization later this year.
Watt sounds content in retirement but isn’t yet completely slamming the door shut on making a dramatic return to the playing field between this September and Super Bowl LIX.
“They have no need or use for me right now,” Watt said about the Texans during a Wednesday appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” per Philip Marsh of DAZN. “They have a phenomenal defense built. They have a phenomenal team built. They are perfectly fine. It literally was, last year and this year, if it came down to an absolute dire situation where they needed someone to help out, then I would do that.”
Watt earned three NFL Defensive Player of the Year Awards and five first-team All-Pro nods playing for the Texans from 2011 through the 2020 season. He spent two campaigns with the Arizona Cardinals before he retired in early 2023, but he hinted this past winter that he thought about playing for either the Texans or Pittsburgh Steelers late last season.
Watt’s brother T. J. Watt is a star pass-rusher for the Steelers. Both Pittsburgh and Houston participated in this year’s postseason tournament.
“I don’t think people understand how much stuff would have to happen for that scenario to play itself out,” J.J. Watt continued during Wednesday’s show segment.
He also insisted he is happy to remain retired even though he believes he could still contribute at the highest level:
Andrew Marchand of The Athletic mentioned last week that J.J. Watt is on track to be part of CBS’ “The NFL Today” program “on a part-time basis” this coming season. However, J.J. Watt has never played in a Super Bowl game and turned just 35 years old back in March.
As of Wednesday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Texans fifth among the betting favorites at +850 odds to represent the AFC in Super Bowl LIX.
While it seems safe to say at this point in his life that J.J. Watt wants nothing to do with springtime workouts and grueling training camp sessions, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans may be able to convince the future Hall of Famer to at least consider chasing a ring if Houston looks like a legitimate championship contender around Christmastime.
