As the Cardinals’ season winds down, the team has little remaining to play for given their collective struggles as a team. For defensive end J.J. Watt, however, the final two weeks of the 2022 regular season will mark his last action in the NFL. The veteran announced (on Twitter) that he is retiring at the end of the campaign. 
Specifically, Watt called Arizona’s Christmas Day loss to the Buccaneers his “last ever NFL home game.” The Cardinals close out the season with road contests against the Falcons and 49ers, which will allow him two final opportunities to add to his illustrious career and substantial statistical accomplishments.
The 33-year-old will, of course, be best remembered for his 10-year stint in Houston after he was drafted 11th overall in 2011 by the Texans. Over the course of that span, Watt established himself as a sure-fire Hall of Famer and one of the most decorated defensive players in league history. The Wisconsin alum broke out in his second season, leading the league with 20.5 sacks. That earned him Defensive Player of the Year honors, along with his first All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors.
His production continued for years after that, as he strung together three consecutive All-Pro and Pro Bowl seasons after his 2012 performance. Watt topped the league in sacks once again in 2015, the third year in which he was named the league’s best defensive player. One season prior, he finished second in MVP voting as he was the focal point of the Texans’ defense in particular and franchise as a whole.
That 2014 year saw Watt sign a six-year, $100MM extension to keep him in Houston. He remained with the Texans through the 2020 campaign – at which point many other franchise pillars were no longer in the fold and the team’s playoff runs of the mid-2010s had begun to give way to the rebuilding phase it now finds itself in. In total, Watt racked up 101 sacks and 25 forced fumbles during his time in Houston, establishing himself as a highly-respected off-the-field pillar along the way.
The 2017 Walter Payton Man of the Year winner became one of the most sought-after free agents last offseason, as he looked for a new home to continue his career amidst turmoil in Houston. He ultimately landed in Arizona, signing a two year contract worth $31MM. Questions were raised in the aftermath of his decision with respect to his potential remaining production, in no small part due to his injury history. Watt missed considerable time in 2016, 2017 and 2019. To perhaps little surprise, then, he was limited to only seven contests in his inaugural campaign with the Cardinals.
The 2010s All-Decade member posted just one sack in 2021, which tempered expectations for him heading into his twelfth NFL season. Watt has turned back the clock this year, however; he leads the Cardinals with 9.5 sacks, his highest total since 2018, the season in which he earned his fifth All-Pro and Pro Bowl nods. Watt has been a mainstay of the Cardinals’ defense all year, missing only the season opener and logging a snap share of 77% on the campaign.
Watt’s 111.5 career sacks rank 26th all time and fourth amongst active players. He will have the opportunity to climb those lists even more in his last two games, as he is only one-half sack behind Chandler Jones and one behind Cam Jordan. Regardless of his performance over the course of the next two weeks, Watt – who has amassed more than $115MM in career earnings – will go down as one of the top defensive linemen in league history.
“My heart is filled with nothing but love and gratitude,” he wrote in his retirement announcement. “It’s been an absolute honor and a pleasure.”
Holy cow, thank you JJ. Passing the torch to TJ
I would’ve loved to have seen an offense try to block both of them..
would’ve been awesome to see one final year on the steelers
Locked for his HOF spot. Great career
he deserved a better end to his career.
maybe changes his mind, but doubt it.
Would have been nice to get ring but career 129 million in NFL earnings, not a bad way to walk away.
Bummer to see him retiring, but it’s not surprising. Glad to see him going out on his own terms while he’s still a very solid player.
overshadowed by Christmas and on an abysmal team that choked away a decent roster.
really sad to see him go out like this.
Figured he would play a few more years. Great career, was phenomenal on and off the field. Will be cool to see a Badger go into the Hall of Fame in 5 years.
He just had a kid. Probably sees there is more to life than football. The guy has made a ton of money and sacrificed his body more than any of us will ever know.
100% agree. He made his money. Putting his body on the line for a few more paychecks is not worth it. Got married and has a little kid. Get out while you can.
I live nearby a few professional football players. A few were lineman. You can see the pain in their walk from prior injuries. Life after football can be a struggle for many of these guys no matter how much money they have.
I’d like to at least see him snag just half a sack more to end with double digits at age 33. If Watt won’t end up with a ring, that would be a small satisfaction.
One of those guys I would have liked to see win a ring along the way, much like I was hoping for Calvin Johnson and Donovan McNabb. Great career.
It’s always heartening to see that a player as great as J.J. Watt was even more spectacular off the field and in the community. The absolute definition of a great athlete and great man.
It’s a shame his career ends for such a dysfunctional team, but glad he’s going out on his feet and not waiting for the injury he can’t rehab. His peak was absolutely spectacular. One of the best I’ve ever seen at his best.
just don’t feel right. wish he were on a contender
He picked them though, that’s the part I didn’t get at the time. Hate to think it was strictly about money..at least more than a real belief in winning..but a few more established playoff caliber teams HAD to be interested, that probably didn’t need him to be a constant game wrecking force. At any rate, I’m glad he didn’t go to TB, Dallas or the Vikings.
He wanted to sign with the packers at the time but they never seemed interested so he signed with the cardinals who gave him a good contact for 2 years
He looked at multiple teams..came down to five. Packers were never going to be able to compete salary wise.
Why so hard. He believed at the time, as did many others Cardinals were a upcoming team. Murray was on rookie contract.. had money for free agents. He also got a great salary. He gave many reasons fo picking weather..community.
ya cardinals went all in .. things just didn’t work out.
definitely a good choice to cash in one last time for JJ.
just wish he either went out on the all 3 Watts team or a playoff team preferably a superbowl contender
AZ is a perfect landing spot for aging vets of all sports. golf courses as far as the eye can see
haha ya it’s all the off-field stuff us fans sometimes forget to see.
there’s kids, family, health, business, leisure.
a lot goes into a retirement like this.
Dudes a 33 year old w 9 fig bank account we call him an aging vet lol how ridiculous
Niners gonna complete the season sweep of the division on jj’s retirement. How fitting, the niners will have something to celebrate, jj will have something to celebrate. What do the cardinals have to celebrate? Most people probably don’t even consider watt to be a cardinal and their franchise is spiraling quickly
He was a beast
Has been a bright spot in an otherwise difficult season here in Phoenix.
A little surprised by this. Obviously we don’t know everything that went into the decision, but just seems kinda early to announce it to me. Would have thought he’d take some time in the off-season and talk to teams about a situational/reduced snaps type role, particularly with expected contenders for ’23.
WATT !! A Bright Idea. Retire when still Electric !!
Bet he thoroughly regrets his bone headed decision to latch onto the dumpster fire that is Kyler Murray and the Cardinals instead of signing in Buffalo. Sad to see such an amazing talent wasted…
“Say Watt again. Say Watt again, I dare you, I double dare you … say Watt one more GD time!”
this is one of those stories where I just keep wanting an update that says he changed his mind and is playing one more season
Going out before suffering a career-ending and life hobbling injury shows that Watt is a sensible man. No doubt he’s banked and invested most of the money he’s made. Made a plan for early retirement. Well done.
We’ll probably see Watt again as either a local leader or even federal one. Lots of opportunities as a coach to him if he prefers to stay in football. Life is not over at thirty-three. It’s just starting for Watt.