- The 35-year-old former DE and Ryans were teammates in ‘H-town’ back in 2011.
- The Texans have Will Anderson, Danielle Hunter and Denico Autry as pass rushers
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JJ Watt has hinted at a sensational return to the NFL by revealing he has already spoken to Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans about a possible return.
Watt, who retired after the 2022 season, turned heads at a press conference in Houston on Saturday for his annual charity softball game, when he let everyone know that this is the last year he’s contemplating the ‘ deretirement’.
‘I am a very lucky man, I have a beautiful wife, I have a beautiful son. “I’ve had 12 great years in the league and I’m very grateful to have come out healthy and playing very well,” the 35-year-old told reporters.
‘I told DeMeco [Ryans] last year: “I don’t care unless you absolutely need it, but if you ever call, I’ll be there.” And he knows not to call unless he absolutely needs to.
“This is the last year I’ll do that to him, because I’m not going to continue training.” [the way] I’ve been training.
JJ Watt, who retired two years ago, earned three NFL DPOYs in his 10 seasons with the Texans.
Watt, 35, and Ryans were teammates on the Texans in 2011, which was Watt’s first season in the NFL and Ryan’s last in Houston.
Ryans was hired as the Texans’ coach in 2023, leading the team to the AFC South division title with a 10-7 record and a wild card victory over the Cleveland Browns.
“He knows that if he really needs it, I’ll be there for him,” Watt said. ‘But I don’t anticipate that happening, because they have a very good team.
“I hope everyone stays extremely healthy and dominates and doesn’t need any bodies, and I can just watch and enjoy it from the couch.”
Watt, 35, and his wife, Kealia, have become minority owners of Burnley since 2023.
This offseason, the Texans signed Danielle Hunter and Denico Autry to bolster their pass-rushing group. Hunter had 16.5 sacks in 2023 with the Vikings, while Autry had 11.5 sacks with the Titans.
What’s more, ‘H-Town’ also features Will Anderson Jr., the third overall pick in last year’s draft who had seven sacks in his rookie season.
Watt won the Defensive Rookie of the Year award and three Defensive Player of the Year awards in his 10 seasons with the Texans. He had 114.5 sacks at the end of his career.
Watt is now an NFL analyst for CBS Sports. Since last year, he and his wife, Kealia, have been minority owners of the English Premier League club Burnley FC.
