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J.J. Watt Makes Post NFL Career Move

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Rodney Knuppel | Last updated Jul 15, 2025 2:23 PM ET

Former NFL superstar J.J. Watt has some big news off the football field that will keep him busy. After 12 seasons in the league, where he starred as a defensive end for the Houston Texans and later the Arizona Cardinals, Watt retired in 2022 and quickly shifted into new ventures.

In May 2023, Watt and his wife announced they were becoming minority investors in Burnley F.C. He’s been active with the soccer club, even appearing as a guest player in The Soccer Tournament in 2024. It's a seven-on-seven event played in Cary, North Carolina.

Now, Watt is getting even more involved in soccer. On Tuesday morning, it was announced that Watt would take over La Liga club Espanyol. Despite the move, both Espanyol and Burnley will remain independent. Espanyol is based in Barcelona, while Burnley is located in England.

Watt acknowledged the news with three words, in Spanish: "¡Força Mágico Espanyol!" That translates to "Go Magic Espanyol."

NFL legend and Burnley minority owner J.J. Watt, alongside Burnley owners, will take over LaLiga club Espanyol.

Both Espanyol and Burnley will remain independent. pic.twitter.com/2KHif3iB6Y
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) July 14, 2025

Espanyol doesn’t have a strong recent track record. Founded in 1900, the club finished 14th out of 20 teams in La Liga last season.

Espanyol was a founding member of La Liga in 1928 and won its first Copa del Rey in 1929. However, the club holds the record for the most seasons in La Liga without winning a league title.

During Watt’s football career, he began at Central Michigan before transferring to Wisconsin. He was selected 11th overall in the 2011 NFL Draft and went on to become one of the league’s most dominant defensive players. Watt won Defensive Player of the Year three times, including back-to-back honors in 2014 and 2015.

In 2017, he was named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year. Watt was selected for five Pro Bowls but never won a Super Bowl. He retired with 114.5 sacks and 586 total tackles.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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