Arizona Cardinals defensive end JJ Watt confirmed Tuesday that he will retire from professional football at the end of the season.
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The 33-year veteran expressed his intentions via his Twitter account two days after the 19-16 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It was his last home game as his team will wrap up the campaign with visits to the Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers.
“That was Koa’s first NFL game and also my last home in the NFL. My heart is filled with love and gratitude. It was an honor and a pleasure,” he wrote, accompanying his message with a photo showing him with his wife and their son, who was born in October.
Koa’s first NFL game.
My very last NFL home game.My heart is filled with nothing but love and gratitude. It was an absolute honor and a pleasure.
— JJ Watts (@JJWatt) December 27, 2022
Watt has been named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year three times. The former Houston Texans color holder, who ran on him from 2011 to 2020, led the NFL for quarterback sack count twice and was invited to the Pro Bowl five times. He attacked the opposing center 111.5 times behind the line of scrimmage.