JJ Watt could make NFL return if Texans ‘absolutely need it’

JJ Watt had an excellent 12-year career in the NFL, but perhaps there are more milestones to add. At his charity softball game on Saturday, Watt revealed his willingness to return to the Houston Texans if head coach DeMeco Ryans ever needed him.

“I’ve had 12 great years in this league and I’m very thankful to have walked away healthy and playing great,” Watt said, via Brandon Scott of the Houston Chron. “I mean, 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.’ And he knows not to call unless he absolutely needs it.

“This is the last year I’ll tell him that, because I’m not going to keep training the way I’ve been training, but he knows that if he ever truly does need it, I’ll be there for him. I don’t anticipate that happening — they’ve got a very good group.”

The Texans finished the regular season with a 10-7 record last year, the franchise’s best since 2019. Houston defeated the Cleveland Browns in blowout fashion in the NFL Playoffs before ultimately suffering a season-ending loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Round.

Houston’s success was largely due to its new quarterback, CJ Stroud, who was named the 2023 NFL Rookie of the Year. The team also drafted the 2023 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Will Anderson Jr.

While Anderson was excellent for the Texans, adding a player like Watt can never hurt. After all, Watt is considered by many to be the best defensive player in the organization’s history.

The Houston Texans selected the Wisconsin native with 11th overall pick in the 2011 Draft. Watt didn’t wait long to make his mark. Watt won the Defensive Player of the Year Award three times in his first five NFL seasons.

After retiring following the 2022 season, Watt holds the records for most tackles for loss (172), sacks (101), and forced fumbles (25) in Texans’ history. In his time with the organization, he led the league in sacks twice and tackles for loss three separate years (2012, 2014, 2015).

While JJ Watt believes he could make a successful return if he needed to, he hopes the Texas continue to excel without him.

“I very much don’t want that to ever be the case,” Watt said. “Yes, I hope that everyone stays extremely healthy and they dominate, and they don’t need any other bodies and I can just watch and enjoy it from the couch.”