HOUSTON – The Houston Texans have released JJ Watt with star defense and granted his request.
Drafted by the Texans in 2011 with the No. 11 pick, Watt became the face of the franchise, winning three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards from 2012-15. Watt is one of three players to win that prize three times.
“I’ve sat down with the McNair family and asked for my release and we have mutually agreed to part ways at this point,” Watt said in a video posted on Twitter. “I came here 10 years ago as a Wisconsin kid who had never actually been to Texas. And now I can’t imagine my life without Texas in it. The way you treated me except for draft night. I mean, you guys have booed me on a draft night But every day after that you treated me like family And I really feel like you are my family.
“… I’m excited and looking forward to another opportunity, and I’ve worked really hard. But at the same time, it’s always hard to move on. And I just want you guys to know that I love you. I appreciate the McNair family for drafting me and giving me my first chance in the NFL. ”
Watt is only getting into his second season of 16 games since 2015, as he has had several seasonal injuries since then.
Houston, I wanted you to hear this directly from me … pic.twitter.com/YqT3P6Lb6l
– JJ Watt (@JJWatt) February 12, 2021
“Change is never easy, especially when it comes to the ones you love. JJ’s impact on not only our organization, but the entire Houston community is unlike any other player in our franchise history. Cal McNair, Chairman and CEO of Texans, said in a prepared statement. “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. “
In 2020, Watt was ranked 15th out of 119 qualified pass rushers in Pass Rush Win Rate, according to research from ESPN Stats & Information. He finished the season with five sacks, two forced fumbles and one interception that he returned for a touchdown.
Watt is by far the most prolific pass rusher in Texans history, with 101 career pockets. Since the franchise’s first season in 2002, there have been only two players in team history with more than 30 career pockets (Whitney Mercilus at 54 and Mario Williams at 53).
During the season, Watt made it clear he was not interested in playing for a team going through a “rebuild”.
“I don’t think it’s a secret that I don’t have 10 more years in this competition,” Watt said in November. “Personally, I believe I have some great ones left in me. But you can’t either … I’m not going to rebuild. I’m looking for a championship, and that’s what I want to do.”
When asked at the end of the season if he believed the 2021 Texans would be in rebuild mode, Watt said there are “so many unknowns to that situation at the moment that you can’t say that definitively.”
Watt still had a year on the contract he signed in 2014. He was in debt of $ 17.5 million in 2021, but his salary was not guaranteed. He is now free to sign with another team.