Tag: J.J. Watt

Two Wisconsin icons, NFL brothers unite at Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice

Badgers linebacker legend J.J. Watt visited his younger brother and Badger great T.J. Watt at Pittsburgh Steelers practice this week.

Former Wisconsin linebacker legend J.J. Watt visited his younger brother and Badger great T.J. Watt at a Pittsburgh Steelers practice this week.

J.J., who retired at the conclusion of the 2022 NFL season, took time out of an offseason as a minority investor in England’s Burnley Football Club to visit another dominant NFL force ahead of his 2024 slate.

T.J.’s Steelers continue to prepare for their final preseason contest against the Detroit Lions, scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 24.

During J.J.’s NFL tenure with the Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals, the Pewaukee, Wisconsin, native earned Pro Bowl appearances, five first-team All-Pro honors and three Defensive Player of the Year awards.

From 2008-10 at Wisconsin, Watt pocketed a Lott IMPACT Trophy, was named team MVP and reeled in consensus first-team All-Big Ten team member at defensive end. As a senior, Watt also captained the Badgers in TFLs, sacks, quarterback hurries, forced fumbles and blocked kicks.

T.J., who enters the 2024 season ranked No. 8 on the NFL 100 list, boasts quite the professional resume as well. He owns six Pro Bowl appearances, four first-team All-Pro nods, 96 1/2 sacks and 107 tackles for loss in his first seven campaigns with Pittsburgh.

Like his brother, he also holds a Defensive Player of the Year (2021) honor. He finished as runner-up in 2020 and 2023 as well.

Outside of their talent on the gridiron, the Watt brothers’ relationship appears to be complete with respect, love and admiration. Coincidentally, they are, unquestionably, the greatest brother duo to step foot on Camp Randall’s hallowed turf.

Texans’ DeMeco Ryans breaks down realities of a potential J.J. Watt return

While a J.J. Watt reunion is wanted by Houston Texans fans, it also seems unlikely barring a last-second change of heart from the defensive end.

When Dencio Autry was slapped with a six-game suspension for PED usage earlier this offseason, most Houston Texans had the same thought on how to replace the veteran defensive lineman.

Re-sign J.J. Watt.

That’s been the talk of the offseason since Watt told reporters that he’d consider reuniting with the reigning AFC South champions if “it was only necessary.”

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans reiterated on the late episode of ‘Up & Adams’ that the door would always be open for Watt to strap it up one more time, but reminded fans that the Watt who once trained during the summer for Sundays in the fall might no longer possess the same relentless motor.

“J.J.’s been out now for what, two years? When you stop playing football for two years, it’s hard to come back,” Ryans said. “It’s always open for JJ. I’m never closing that door.”

Watt, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and Houston’s all-time leader in sacks, retired after a 12.5-sack season in 2022 with the Arizona Cardinals. He’s set to begin a new venture in the broadcast booth as part of the morning crew on CBS.

But fans have begged for a “one final rodeo” off NRG Drive with arguably the franchise’s top star. Maybe it could happen if Houston runs out of options, but Watt hasn’t played a down in over a year and might more so provide high value in a leadership aspect.

Even with Autry’s suspension, the Texans remain a favorite in the AFC after a booming offseason. They signed top free agents in linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and defensive end Danielle Hunter. They traded for Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon and two-time All-Pro receiver Stefon Diggs to better their offensive personnel.

Houston remains a top-level roster with its firepower and star talent. It should be fine without Autry or a Watt reunion en route to clinching another AFC South division title, though Ryans will let the former defensive end decide if he wants to come back for one final run to a Lombardi Trophy.

Bengals locker room redesign gets an interesting comment from J.J. Watt

J.J. Watt had something to say about the new locker room for the Bengals.

The Cincinnati Bengals made those massive upgrades to the locker room that players like Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase loved, pulling back the proverbial curtain on them this week.

But not all onlookers shared the same energy.

Former NFL star J.J. Watt, for example, used the unveiling to joke about some of the stats behind the lockers themselves. While he also said that the upgrades looked great, Watt got some pushback from fans for one of his comments.

Over a message that shared details such as the weight and accessories of each player’s locker, Watt joked about the promotion going out of its way to mention the weight at all:

And hey, to each their own — it’s interesting to know that one of the largest offensive tackle combos in the NFL will only have 800 pounds of support room the locker, right? Orlando Brown (345 pounds), Trent Brown (370) and Amarius Mims (340) all have lockers right next to each other, too.

Now, all we need to hear is the actual weight of every locker room space for each team in the league.

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Texans legend J.J. Watt still looks in playing shape after posting new photo

Former Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt isn’t helping silence the rumors that he could return in 2024.

J.J. Watt might be retired, but the former Houston Texans legend still looks like he could strap on a helmet and play tomorrow if DeMeco Ryans were to call.

Monday’s recent post on social media won’t extinguish the rumors that a return for the future Hall of Famer isn’t off the table either.

Watt, one of the league’s most feared defenders of the past decade, posted a workout photo to his X account with the caption: “progress.”

Naturally, Texans fans couldn’t contain their excitement to see the word, thus leading to speculation that the former five-time All-Pro could return to the reigning AFC South champions for one last run before actually calling it a career.

Multiple Texans fans commented, asking for an update on when he’d be signing. Another asked him if he would be on the roster before the Week 11 deadline just to give Houston that extra oomph for a playoff run.

So, could Watt return in 2024?

The image has reasons to create speculation. Still only 35, Watt told reporters during his annual charity softball game earlier this offseason that he’d return to the Texans only out of necessity.

“I’m very thankful to have walked away healthy, playing great,” Watt said  “I told DeMeco last year: I said, ‘Don’t call unless you absolutely need it. But if you ever do call, I’ll be there.’ This is the last year I’ll tell him that, because I’m not going to keep training the way I’ve been training.”

The three-time Defensive Player of the Year shocked the NFL world following the 2022 season when he announced his retirement at only 33.

Watt was technically at the peak of his game when he called it a career, finishing with 12.5 sacks, 18 tackles for loss and seven pass deflections in his final year with the Arizona Cardinals.

Perhaps the most dominant pass rusher of the 2010s, Watt’s 114.5 career sacks rank 34th in NFL history. He’s also one of four players in pro football history to post three or more seasons with at least 17.5 sacks.

It’s not uncommon to see players come back for a swan song in the playoffs before officially hanging up the cleats. In the 2021 season, safety Eric Weddle joined the Los Angeles Rams for a postseason run that ended with a Super Bowl victory.

 

Right now, it still feels like a pipe dream for both sides. Watt seems poised to turn in his helmet for a microphone as he’ll join the media world with CBS Sports’ “The NFL Today” this fall.

Houston, which clinched its first division title since 2019 behind new franchise defensive end Will Anderson Jr., recently signed veteran Jerry Hughes. The Texans also re-signed Derek Barnett earlier this offseason to a one-year deal and agreed to terms with four-time Pro Bowler Danielle Hunter.

Watt seems content looking like a bodybuilder away from the football field, but pictures like that won’t squelch the rumor mill.

Still, it never hurts to stay in shape just in case, right?

Former Wisconsin legend makes NFL’s Houston Texans Mount Rushmore

Former Wisconsin legend makes NFL’s Houston Texans Mount Rushmore

Former Wisconsin defensive end J.J. Watt was included in the NFL’s Mount Rushmore for all-time Houston Texans last week.

The 10-year Texan earned a spot alongside former All-Pros Duane Brown (LT) and DeAndre Hopkins (WR) and 2024 Hall of Famer Andre Johnson (WR). Unlike other longstanding NFL franchises, the Texans’ first season was in 2002, which naturally invites a younger generation of players into the franchise’s upper echelon.

In three years as a Badger, Watt was a Lott IMPACT Trophy winner, team MVP and consensus first-team All-Big Ten team member at defensive end. As a senior, he also led his squad in TFLs, sacks, quarterback hurries, forced fumbles and blocked kicks.

He finished his collegiate tenure third all-time in UW history with four career blocked kicks, something he would implement well as an elite NFL defender.

 

The Houston Texans selected the Pewaukee, Wisconsin native with the 11th overall pick of the 2011 NFL Draft. Watt made an early impression and immediately wreaked havoc on opposing offenses as an edge rusher.

The 6-foot-6, 288-pounder recorded a league-high 20.5 sacks and 39 TFLs en route to his first career AP Defensive Player of the Year Award in only his second NFL season.

Watt ultimately reeled in three Defensive Player of the Year awards, five All-Pro selections and a spot on the Hall of Fame All-2010s Team as a professional.

The former Badger hung up his cleats in 2022 after the second of his two seasons in Arizona. He and seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady will be locks for Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2027.

Steelers LB T.J. Watt talks his football mortality and lack of playoff success

T.J. Watt doesn’t know how long he’s going to play but his focus is all about the playoff losses.

It’s hard to imagine that Pittsburgh Steelers edge defender T.J. Watt will turn 30 this year. It doesn’t feel like Watt has been playing for seven seasons already but it’s the reality.

Watt spoke to The Athletic recently and talked about how long he’s played, how long he wants to play, and his goals going forward.

“I don’t know if I want to play forever, but who knows? It is too hard to say. J.J said he didn’t want to play super long, then things happened and he ended up playing longer. I won’t know until that moment comes. I feel great right now, so I am kind of just living in the moment.”

Watt is the Steelers franchise sack leader, hold the NFL single-season sack record, has a Defensive Player of the Year and is the only player in NFL history to lead the league in sacks three times.

But you know what he doesn’t have? A playoff win. The Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since 2016, making all the hard work and effort Watt puts out meaningless in the big picture. This matters to Watt but he’s not going to stop doing everything he can to help the team finally get that elusive playoff win.

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LOOK: A pair of Wisconsin football legends react to Eugene Hilton Jr.’s commitment

LOOK: A pair of former Wisconsin football legends react to Eugene Hilton commitment

Former Wisconsin football legends J.J. Watt and Jonathan Taylor reacted to top-ranked class of 2025 wide receiver Eugene Hilton Jr.’s UW commitment on Friday via social media.

It’s safe to say both Taylor and Watt were excited about Wisconsin landing the four-star receiver, who became the program’s 19th overall commitment in the class and second wide receiver.

Hilton Jr. is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 395 player in the class of 2025, No. 63 wide receiver and No. 7 recruit from his home state of Indiana. His commitment comes after visiting the Badgers on June 7 — marking yet another win from the official visit season. It elevated the Badgers’ class of 2025 to No. 5 in the nation, per Rivals.

Hilton, the son of four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver TY Hilton, chose the Badgers over other finalists Georgia, Ole Miss, Miami, Missouri, Kansas and Purdue.

Here is what Taylor and Watt posted on X on Friday:

Watt was a Lott IMPACT Trophy winner, team MVP and consensus first-team All-Big Ten team member at Wisconsin. He went on to enjoy a storied 12-year NFL career with the Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals.

The Pewaukee, Wisconsin native reeled in three Defensive Player of the Year awards, five All-Pro selections and a spot on the Hall of Fame All-2010s Team as a professional.

A teammate T.Y Hilton in Indianapolis, Taylor enjoyed similar success during his collegiate tenure. The running back was a two-time Doak Walker Award winner, Walter Camp Player of the Year finalist, Maxwell Award semifinalist, Lombardi Award semifinalist, unanimous first-team All-America  at Wisconsin.

Both Watt and Taylor are obviously familiar with the Hilton family and appear ecstatic for Luke Fickell’s program following the commitment. With several batches of official visits remaining on the Badgers’ summer slate, Wisconsin will look to build on an already spectacular 2025 cycle.

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99 days till the Cardinals’ season opener

The last impactful No. 99 was J.J. Watt.

It is countdown time. On Saturday, it was 99 days from the Arizona Cardinals’ season opener on the road against the Buffalo Bills on September 8.

With 99 days until the season opener, who was the last impactful No. 99?

No. 99 is a retired number for Marshall Goldberg but it was allowed to be unretired for two seasons for defensive lineman J.J. Watt, who played two seasons for the Cardinals in 2021-2022 before he retired from the NFL.

In his final season with the Cardinals, he had 12.5 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, 25 quarterback hits and seven tipped passes.

He will be a Hall of Famer. The No. 99 will likely never be worn again. It was fun to see it come out of retirement for a couple of years.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

 

Nico Collins expects ‘dangerous passing attack’ from Texans in 2024

By adding in Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins believes the Houston Texans will have one of the more lethal passing attacks behind C.J. Stroud

It’s rare for teams to feel complete entering organized team activities (OTAs), but the Houston Texans might feel like an exception entering May 20th’s return date. 

At least that’s how wide receiver Nico Collins feels with a retooled passing attack surrounding Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud after promising results en route to an AFC South division title. 

And Collins, the NFL’s breakout pass-catcher of 2023, believes that the seventh-ranked passing attack will only get better this fall thanks to another offseason working with Stroud and Tank Dell. 

Well that, plus the addition of four-time Pro Bowl receiver Stefon Diggs. 

“It’s going to be dangerous, real dangerous, man,” Collins told KPRC2 Sports‘ Aaron Wilson during his youth football camp Saturday morning at Houston Christian High School. “Adding Diggs to the room, it’s going to be a lot of weapons. There’s going to be great opportunities for everybody.

“The sky is the limit for us.”

Collins shined as the Texans’ go-to weapon in 2023, becoming the third player in franchise history to surpass 1,200 receiving yards in a single season. He was on pace to break Andre Johnson’s single-season record (1,572), but a strained calf sidelined him for two games in early December. 

The Texans feel like a team ready to build off their success last fall, though it’s always easy to project that out loud. Living up to the hype on gamedays is the challenging part to emulate.

Countless franchises across the league have put the pieces around their passers on rookie deals with expectations of securing a spot in the Super Bowl, only to come up short.

Los Angeles added pieces around Justin Herbert and never advanced past the wild-card round. Miami built an offense to carter toward Tua Tagovailoa’s strengths and followed a similar path to the Chargers, though Mike McDaniel is still employed entering a pivotal Year 3. 

Houston hopes it doesn’t meet a similar fate while hoping to surpass Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City in the postseason. One could argue the Texans are looking to follow Cincinnati’s formula with Joe Burrow, who thwarted Mahomes and the Chiefs for an AFC crown during his second season. 

In 2021, Burrow trusted three explosive receivers in Ja’Marr Chase, Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins to secure a spot in the Super Bowl. With the arrival of Diggs, who has led the league in catches (445) since 2020, Stroud now has a similar arsenal.  

“I feel like the offense [has] a lot of weapons. Everybody has got a chance,” Collins said. “When the ball is in their hands, an explosive play is coming. I feel like, for us, we need to continue to work on the details, continue to be us, continue to have fun and show the world what we can do. I can’t wait for it.”

While Diggs was the offseason’s prized acquisition, he wasn’t the only target brought in to elevate Stroud’s numbers. The Texans traded a seventh-round pick to Cincinnati to acquire running back Joe Mixon and later inked him to a three-year, $27 million extension. 

Mixon, 27, is coming off his fourth 1,000-yard campaign but upped his value as a pass-catcher on short routes with 52 catches for 376 yards and three touchdowns. 

Houston also brought back tight end Dalton Schultz on a three-year, $36 million extension before the start of free agency. Last month during the draft, the Texans added depth with a familiar face in Cade Stover, Stroud’s top tight end at Ohio State. 

Collins, who’s entering a contract season, knows that Houston’s no longer viewed as the league’s laughing stock. He was part of the rebuild which saw two coaches fired in back-to-back years and lackluster offensive production. 

The Texans are built to win. So is the rest of the AFC South after an aggressive free agency period. The former Michigan receiver knows the division will be challenging but also understands that Houston has a persona to carry. 

He doesn’t intend to watch regression set in, both individually and as a team.  

“The only way is up,” Collins said. “[We] can’t go down, can’t backtrack. Got to elevate. That’s my mindset right now.”

J.J. Watt weighs in on Austin Rivers’ NBA vs. NFL take

Houston Texans legend J.J. Watt made sure to call out Austin Rivers for his egregious take on NBA players vs. NFL players

J.J. Watt has enjoyed his life in retirement. He’s been content not putting his body on the line to reach quarterbacks and instead finds peace with charity softball tournaments, owning a soccer club and being a dad. 

Still, the former Houston Texans star isn’t afraid to call out those who don’t respect the gridiron gang. Watt made it clear his mind revolves around football last week when he called out Austin Rivers for his comments on the NFL vs. the NBA. 

Rivers, a former Houston Rockets point guard and the son of Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers, said on The Pat McAfee Show earlier in the week that he could “take 30 players right now in the NBA and throw them in the NFL” and the same couldn’t be done with NFL players in the league. 

Watt, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and five-time first-team All-Pro, vehemently disagreed with the take, quote-tweeting the former guard-turned-analyst: “You don’t got a job in either right now, go head and try it…” 

Both sports are incredibly complicated to master, and it takes years to hone the craft at the pro level. Workouts differ. Skills on the hardwood won’t translate to the football field and vice versa. 

Watt even admitted in a follow-up tweet that he couldn’t make it in the NBA because: “6 hard fouls is about all I could give you and call it a day.”

This isn’t to say in a 7-on-7 tournament or game of pickup the opponent wouldn’t compete, but in a live game? That feels a bit far-fetched. Also, Watt and Rivers both are currently not playing and haven’t for nearly a year. 

Watt retired with the Arizona Cardinals in 2022 after totaling 12.5 sacks to close out his career. Rivers, who spent 11 seasons in the league, last played for the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2023. 

Multiple players have transitioned from one sport to another in the past. Antonio Gates, Jimmy Graham and Tony Gonzalez were all known for their ability on the court before transforming into All-Pro tight ends.

Charlie Ward spent 12 seasons in the NBA after winning a national title and the Heisman Trophy at Florida State in 1993. 

Time will tell whether an NFL player will translate his skills to the NBA or vice versa. Perhaps Roger Goodell and Adam Silver could set up a winner-take-all tournament between the two sides to earn bragging rights for all eternity?