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Arizona Cardinals defensive end JJ Watt announced his retirement from the NFL this week after playing 12 years in the league. Once thought of as one of the best players in the NFL (not just on defense), Watt was a game-wrecker in every sense.
Although injuries robbed him of valuable playing time, he will still go down as one of the best defensive players of his generation. So why did he retire?
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Many thought age (33) and his injury record coupled with the Cardinals' poor season resulted in his retirement. Well, Watt lifted the lid on why he retired at a press conference on Thursday.
He said:
“It feels like the right time. I’ve put so much into the game and the wins and the losses, the mental stress and passion that comes with it, it just weighs on you. It’s heavy, I mean, it’s really heavy.”
He recently became a father as well, so one can imagine that spending quality time with his family also played a big role in deciding to walk away from the game.
The mental toll he spoke about is also likely one of the main reasons. Being at his age and asked to put everything into each day likely weighed heavily on him. At this stage of his career, he doesn't have anything left to prove in the league anyway.
JJ Watt to go down as one of the best of his generation
Taken with the 11th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans, Watt had just 5.5 sacks in his rookie year. But little did we know that was going to be his lowest total for the next four years.
His second season was a sight to behold as he totaled 20.5 sacks, dominating the league. He was an All-Pro and the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Over the next three seasons, he totaled 48.5 sacks as he again hit the 20 mark in 2014.
Unfortunately, injuries got a hold of him as he only played eight games in the next two years. In 2018, he was back to his best as he notched 16 sacks, but he wasn't the same game-destroyer.
He retired with 111.5 sacks in 149 NFL games (still two to play this year). He's a five-time All-Pro and Pro Bowler, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, and a member of the All-2010s team.
He is most certainly in the conversation as one of the best defensive players to ever play the game.
If you use the above quote, please credit JJ Watt and H/T Sportskeeda
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