Eyebrows raised several years ago when J.J. Watt began publicly pondering his football longevity. Fortunately for the Houston Texans, despite multiple serious injuries and resulting surgeries later, the three-time Defensive Player of the Year put any concerns about him soon hanging up his cleats to rest on Thursday.
During an interview on the Rich Eisen Show, Watt insisted passing thoughts of early retirement were more prevalent earlier in his career, and that he's “feeling good” after a healthy offseason of training.
“I honestly thought it about it a lot more earlier in my career, probably like three or four years ago,” he said of retirement.
“I haven’t thought about it in a while, because I honestly feel really good. I’m coming off of a healthy offseason where I got to train properly I got to train the way I wanted to and getting to participate in training camp fully without the restrictions or anything, and I’m feeling good. So, I really am not thinking about that, and I think part of that’s just as you grow.”
Watt made similar comments earlier this spring, telling NFL Network that he “doesn't want to leave the game any time soon.”
The 30-year-old regained at least some of the form last season that makes him one of the most decorated defenders in NFL history. He had 61 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, 25 quarterback hits, and a career-best seven forced fumbles in 2018, earning First Team All-Pro honors for the fifth time in his career but the first season since 2015.
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