Former Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals superstar tight end J.J. Watt revealed that he will come out of retirement to join an AFC team if one specific condition is met by another professional athlete.
J.J. Watt retired from football in 2023 after a marvelous 12-year career. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year walked away with plenty of gas left in the tank, as he recorded 12.5 sacks and seven pass breakups in his 2022 swan song season with the Cardinals.
Some fans have wondered if Watt might consider unretiring, given that he was still a Pro Bowl talent when he retired. As it turns out, the future Canton member will happily un-retire if another professional athlete overseas can complete one special feat.
Watt and his wife, former pro soccer player Kealia Watt, are minority investors in Burnley F.C., a team that plays in the English Football League Championship (the tier below the English Premier League).
During an appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show”, J.J. Watt said that Burnley F.C. goalkeeper James Trafford teased him about unretiring to play for the Cincinnati Bengals (Trafford’s favorite team).
With 28 games left in the campaign, Watt told Trafford that he’ll join the Bengals if he doesn’t allow a goal the rest of the season. Watt thought it was “a joke” at first, but Trafford has held up his end of the bargain with only 13 games remaining.
“I’ll do it, if he does that…it’s insane enough and respectful enough that I will absolutely follow through, and I’ll go out there. Who knows if they’ll even want me…but I’m in shape, I’d go play.”
.@JJWatt says he’ll absolutely follow through with his bet to come out of retirement and play for the #Bengals if James Trafford doesn’t allow another goal for the rest of the season.
The only question? Would the Bengals want him? 👀
Care to comment, @Bengals? pic.twitter.com/d7QY5xPk88
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) February 25, 2025
Alright, Bengals fans who don’t follow soccer. Now you have incentive to tune into every Burnley F.C. game as long as Trafford keeps his shutout streak going.
J.J. Watt Would Push Bengals Closer To Title Contention
One of the Bengals’ biggest weaknesses is the lack of pass rushing depth outside of superstar Trey Hendrickson. Add Watt to the mix, however, and the Bengals would have perhaps a top-five pass rushing tandem in the league.
Not to mention that we’d get to see J.J. take on younger brother T.J. Watt and the AFC North rival Pittsburgh Steelers twice a year!
