J.J. Watt recalls moment when he wished he hadn't retired

J.J. Watt. Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

J.J. Watt recalls a recent moment that made him wish he hadn’t retired

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated Nov 9, 2023 10:44 AM ET

Former Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt has only been retired for half a season, but he’s already getting the itch to play again. Well, sort of.

Watt admitted on the latest episode of “The Pat McAfee Show” that when he was in Pittsburgh with his brother T.J. for the Steelers’ Week 9 matchup with the Tennessee Titans there was a moment that made him miss his playing days.

“As the music starts going, and it's getting closer and closer and he's getting ready to leave, we started talking about the pregame,” Watt said. “That's the first time I was like, ‘Man, I wish I was doing this right now.’ For that moment, I was like, ‘I do wish I was getting ready for a game.’ Just that feeling, that adrenaline and being able to see it and feel it in the house — it was the first time that I actually had that FOMO about it.”

Football is family @_TJWatt | @JJWatt pic.twitter.com/gBJtutZtIQ
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 3, 2023

However, Watt also admitted that while he was temporarily envious of his little brother, the moment was fleeting when he remembered why he retired in the first place.

“After the game when we're driving home and he's talking about, ‘My finger hurts. My wrist hurts. My heel hurts, I was like, ‘Oh yeah, that's why I don't do it,’” Watt said. “There's plenty of reasons why.”

Watt retired following the 2022 season after playing 10 years with the Texans and two with the Arizona Cardinals. He was a seven-time All-Pro selection, a five-time Pro Bowler and a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He also led the NFL in sacks twice.

The 34-year-old ended his career with 725 pressures, 586 tackles, 371 hurries, 225 QB hits, 195 tackles for loss, 114.5 sacks, 70 passes defensed, 27 forced fumbles and 17 fumble recoveries. He holds Texans franchise records for sacks, forced fumbles and fumble recoveries.

Michael Gallagher

Michael Gallagher is a longtime sports journalist based out of Nashville with a decade of experience covering college football, mixed martial arts and prep sports plus the NFL and NHL — specifically the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators. He’s covered several notable sporting events including an AFC Championship game, a Stanley Cup Final, an NHL All-Star Game and an NHL Stadium Series. Some of his past bylines can be found at the Nashville Scene, SB Nation, The Hockey News and Fox Sports Knoxville

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