Does J.J. Watt deserve to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

J.J. Watt was that guy, and anybody who played with or against the Houston Texans legend will tell you that. The defensive end was a menace all over the Gridiron, and he made offensive coordinators pull out their hair when he went to work. It's such a shame that NFL fans these days know him as simply a veteran presence on an underperforming Arizona Cardinals side rather than the force of nature that he once was.

J.J. was so good that his similarly talented younger brother, T.J. Watt, frequently scoffs at their comparison. As the younger Watt insists that J.J. was in a realm of his own, many teams had to game plan whenever a certain D.E. came to town. So, in honor of the career of J.J. Watt, who recently hinted at his retirement from the Gridiron, here is a deep dive into his chances of making the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

J.J. Watt was the best player in the NFL during his prime

Few players can claim to be the unofficial best player in football because, let's face it, MVP voters are only interested in offensive-minded players. However, if we mentioned a player in the past decade that earned that distinction, it would be J.J. Watt.

Watt was a menace on the Gridiron, and he's a three-time Defensive Player of the Year three times. That feat is remarkable coming from a defensive end in Houston, and he is an important part of what made the Texans competitive at the time. He was an All-Pro five times and a Pro Bowler five times during his career.

Watt was also very durable in the first half of his career, playing in five consecutive 16-game seasons to start off his career. He did this while being his side's defensive fulcrum and never backed away from a fight. While the second part of his career only saw him achieve the 16-game season a mere two times, he has been a key asset for his teams anytime he suits.

So yes, J.J. Watt is beyond deserving to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as a first-ballot Hall of Famer, for that matter. He might not have ticked the longevity box, but he ticked the other boxes. He was dominant, feared, and effective, and for half a decade, he was arguably the best football player in the world.

How is J.J. Watt performing this season?

J.J. Watt is having a fantastic season with the Arizona Cardinals, which makes his retirement decision all the more surprising. Maybe he was just keen on going out on his own terms, so we must applaud. It is quite unfortunate that Watt's Arizona Cardinals side is missing the 2022 NFL Season playoffs, which means that Watt will retire without a Super Bowl.

Watt is having a late-career comeback season in 2022, putting up numbers that seemed unthinkable at the start of the season. In 14 games played, he has 33 tackles (26 solo and 7 assisted), 9.5 sacks, and one forced fumble.