NFL legend J.J. Watt is in the United Kingdom to meet with Burnley club officials as the former defensive star could become a minority shareholder.
At the end of the 2022 campaign, Watt announced he will retire from the NFL after a career that spanned 12 seasons. A five-time Pro Bowler, he was also was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame All-2010s Team and named Defensive Player of the Year on three occasions.
Watt is a renowned football fan and he recently has posted a number of photos of his living room as he watches Burnley games, which is rather curious although the Clarets are currently leading the Championship. His wife, Kealia, is a footballer herself who has enjoyed spells with the Houston Dash and Chicago Red Stars while making three appearances - and scoring once - for the USWNT.
Per Simon Evans, Watt is in Burnley today to meet with club officials over an ownership role. The 33-year-old reportedly spent the afternoon meeting students and staff at Burnley College while donning a Burnley scarf throughout.
His move to join Burnley’s ownership group is little coincidence; two-time Super Bowl champion Malcolm Jenkins hit headlines in October 2021 as he became a minority investor in the club’s American ownership group, ALK Capital investment, himself. It appears Watt is set to do the same.
After Jenkins was confirmed as a minority investor, Burnley chairman Alan Pace released a statement which read: “It was great to welcome Malcolm and his team to Turf Moor at the weekend and give them their first live taste of Premier League action. Malcolm has a wealth of high-level experience, not only as an elite sportsman, but through his successful business and philanthropic enterprises.
“We're thrilled to have him as part of our investment group and look forward to him helping our efforts to develop the club both on and off the pitch.”
Watt is one of the NFL’s all-time great defensive players and leaves behind a legacy of greatness both on and off the field. In 2017, he was named the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year and the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year after he led a fundraising effort that raised more than $37 million in Hurricane Harvey relief for the Houston community, where he played with the Texans.
Houston drafted Watt 11th overall in the 2011 NFL Draft, and he spent 10 seasons with the franchise before joining the Arizona Cardinals. In 14 games with the Cardinals last season, Watt made 33 tackles (14 for loss) and posted 21 quarterback hits, 9.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
It appears Watt is enjoying his retirement so far and he could make an appearance at Turf Moor as Vincent Kompany's side take on Wigan.
