DJ Bien-AimeESPNJ12. Jun 2023 10:21am ET3 minutes read
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HOUSTON — The Houston Texans will add defensive end JJ Watt to the team’s Ring of Honor in Week 4 on Oct. 1 at halftime against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team announced Monday.
Watt retired after the 2022 season after playing his senior year with the Arizona Cardinals, finishing his career with 114.5 sacks in his 12 seasons. But he was the Texans’ most decorated player in the franchise’s 21-year history.
The Texans picked him No. 11 overall pick from Wisconsin in 2011, and he played 10 seasons for the organization. Watt will become the third member to be inducted into the Texans Ring of Honor, joining Robert C. McNair and Andre Johnson.
“We are very pleased that JJ Watt is joining the Ring of Honor as the third member. Everyone knows how much JJ means to our family, the Texans organization and the entire city of Houston,” franchise owners Janice, Hannah and Cal McNair said in a joint statement. “He is one of the most dominant players in NFL history and has forged a unique and irreplaceable bond with our fans. JJ has always held a special place in Houston’s heart and we look forward to welcoming him back. On behalf of the whole organization, we can’t wait to give JJ and his family the celebration he deserves on October 1st.”
With the Texans, Watt finished with 101.5 sacks, was named an All-Pro five times, and won the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award three times in 2012, 2014 and 2015. He’s one of three players in the history of NFL Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor, and the Los Angeles Rams defensively tackle Aaron Donald to accomplish the feat. During his tenure, the franchise also won the AFC South Division title six times and made the divisional playoff rounds in 2011, 2012, 2016 and 2019.
Watt won the 2017 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award by raising $41.6 million for the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund, which was distributed to eight nonprofit organizations to help the Houston community in the wake of damage caused by Hurricane Harvey help.
The Texans fired Watt in February 2021 after he asked to leave the team to seek a championship with a competitor. He joined the Cardinals, who went 6-11 in the regular season before losing to the Rams 34-11 in the wild card round.
In Watt’s final season, the Cardinals led 4-13, but he finished the season with 12.5 sacks.