The Houston Texans and DE JJ Watt have mutually agreed to part ways, the team announced today.
Watt is the franchise’s all-time greatest pocket leader (101.0), three-time winner of the Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award (2012, 2014-15) and 2017 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year.
“Change is never easy, especially when it comes to the ones you love. JJ’s impact on not just our organization, but the entire Houston community is unlike any other player in the history of our franchise.” , said Cal McNair, chairman and CEO of Texans. “I told JJ earlier this week that we’ll consider him a Texan forever. We console ourselves in the knowledge that this is not a goodbye, but a ‘goodbye’. For now, we’re building on the foundation JJ created here and continuing our unwavering mission of bringing a championship to our city, creating memorable experiences for our fans, and doing great things for Houston. “
“Simply put, no one has had a greater impact on the Texas organization in the past decade than JJ Watt,” said co-founder and senior chairman Janice S. McNair. “JJ’s dominance on the field was unprecedented and resulted in countless moments that will go down in Texans’ history. To me, what best describes JJ’s connection to Houston is his tradition of playing catch with the fans before every home game. Wear # 99 jerseys with a smile on their face, which fully embraced JJ’s passion for connecting with Texan fans at every possible opportunity. His commitment to the community is unlike any player in NFL history. We are JJ and his family for always grateful.
“The bond I have with the people of Houston is special, and I will never take that for granted because I know how rare it is. I just want you to know that I love you and that I appreciate you,” said Watt via a message. to fans via social media. “I want to thank the McNair family for composing me and giving me my first chance in the NFL. Thanks, Houston.”
The Texans selected Watt with the 11th pick in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft, and he played in 128 games for the team in 10 seasons (2011-20). A five-time Pro Bowl roster and AP First-Team All-Pro (2012-15, 2018), Watt set franchise records in sacks (101.0), tackles for loss (172), quarterback hits (281) and forced fumbles (25) to go with 531 total tackles, 61 passes defended and 16 fumbles. He owns the four highest single-season totals in team history (2012, 2014, 2015, 2018) and remains the only player in the history of the league to have collected at least 15.0 percent of a single franchise’s sacks .
Watt is one of only three players in NFL history to have won at least three AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Awards, in 2012 and 2014-15. Since joining the NFL in 2011, he has led the league in tackles for loss (172), quarterback hits (281), multi-sack games (26), and sack yards (713.5) while taking second place stands in pockets (101.0). In 2020, Watt, who bagged the NFL twice (2012 and 2015), became the fourth fastest player in NFL history with a total of 100.0 bags, in just his 120th career game.
From 2012-15, Watt registered four consecutive seasons with at least 10.0 sacks, including two seasons with 20.5 in 2012 and 2014. During that time, he earned six of his seven AFC Defensive Player of the Week awards and five of his six career. AFC Defensive Player of the Month Awards. Watt is also the only player in NFL history with 20.0 or more sacks and 10 or more passes defended in the same season (2012 and 2014), and he ranks fifth among defensive linemen in league history with six regular seasons. touchdowns, including three receiving touchdowns.
Off the field, Watt’s response to disastrous 2017 Hurricane Harvey helped him win the prestigious Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. The Hurricane touched down in Houston when Watt and the Texans were playing their third preseason game. Watching the events happen from afar, Watt posted a video to social media announcing a fundraiser with a very attainable $ 200,000 goal, to which he wanted to match the first $ 100,000. Little did he know he would help raise more than $ 37 million in just 19 days, a total that eventually grew to more than $ 41 million. Watt was committed to finding organizations that used the money in the way he promised donors and victims of the disaster. He also made sure that every dollar went directly to the people in Houston and surrounding areas in need.
Watt started the Justin J. Watt Foundation while a junior at the University of Wisconsin in 2010 out of a desire to help disadvantaged children. His personal motto “Dream Big, Work Hard” resulted in a mission he used to influence communities across the country. The foundation has provided more than $ 6 million in funding to schools and organizations that either lack funding for their after-school youth athletics programs or have no after-school athletics programs at all.