NFL legend JJ Watt appeared to confirm his impending retirement at the end of the 2022 season in a heartwarming social media post on Tuesday.
On Sunday night, Watt and his Arizona Cardinals faced off against Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a tight game that went to overtime at 16-16. A Ryan Succop field goal allowed the Bucs to snatch a 19-16 win, leaving the Cardinals with a 4-11 record.
After the final whistle blew, Cardinals star pass rusher Watt appeared to be in tears as he walked off the field at the University of Phoenix Stadium. Many assumed it would be his final home game in Arizona given he is a free agent at the end of the season, but it now seems to be the final home game of his career.
At the end of the 2022 campaign, Watt will be a free agent following the completion of a two-year, $28 million contract with the franchise. The Cardinals are not going to the playoffs, so the regular season finale will be the final game of his current contract - and his career, according to Watt’s post on social media.
“Koa’s first ever NFL game,” Watt wrote with a picture of his partner Kealia and son on Twitter. “My last ever NFL home game.
“My heart is filled with nothing but love and gratitude. It’s been an absolute honour and a pleasure.”
At 33 years of age, Watt can still bring it and finished Sunday night's game with six total tackles (five solo). For the season, he's racked up 33 total tackles (26 solo), 9.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and six passes defended.
It means the match against the San Francisco 49ers will bring the curtain down on Watt’s legendary 12-year career. He has been one of the most dominant defensive players over the last decade, earning five First-Team All-Pro nominations and five Pro Bowl appearances while he sits fifth among all active players in total career sacks.
Watt is also one of just three players to be named NFL Defensive Player of the Year on three occasions in league history. He is certainly headed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame down the line, while he was also named 2017 Walter Payton Man of the Year for his charitable work while with the Houston Texans.
Although Watt’s production has dropped somewhat in recent years, he is still one of the greatest defensive ends in the history of the sport. If he wanted to continue playing, he would have no shortage of suitors - but the birth of his first child back in October has moved the goalposts, with fatherhood taking priority.
Watt and the Cardinals are next in action on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
