Although J.J. Watt is retired, he won’t be signing a one-day contract to retire with the team that drafted him, the Houston Texans.
The 34-year-old defensive end, who played his final NFL game in an Arizona Cardinals uniform last season, stated he really sees no need as he’s set to be inducted to the Texans Ring of Honor on Oct. 1 during a Week 4 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“I personally just don’t really understand or see the reason for it,” Watt said, via CBS Sports. “It’s more just a ceremonial piece of paper. I think that the Ring of Honor and all that comes with it is more than enough. I think they’ve done it first class the whole way and I appreciate that. I haven’t even filled out or done any retirement papers or anything. So, I don’t really feel the need to sign a one-day contract or anything. It’s just a piece of paper.”
While Watt has given no indication that he’s considering playing again, he could simply be keeping his options open. Because he hasn’t officially filed retirement papers with the league office, Watt is technically a free agent and free to sign with any team he wants if he chooses to continue playing.
Signing a one-day contract with Houston would necessitate a release if Watt wanted to play for another team in 2023.
“I’m very, very at peace with (being retired),” Watt said. “I’m very happy about it. The only time I was really like ‘Oh, damn’ was when I was asking my agent, ‘Let’s say I did go into free agency this year.’ I saw a lot of the numbers that were being thrown around in free agency. And I was like, ‘I have more sacks than that guy, I have more than that guy.’ And I was like, ‘What would I have gotten in free agency?’ Other than that, I haven’t really thought about it.”
Watt ended his career as the Texans all-time leader in sacks (101), tackles for loss (172), QB hits (282) and forced fumbles (25), and he ranked second in fumble recoveries (16) and fourth in passes defensed (61), per Pro Football Reference. His resume includes three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards, five Pro Bowls and five First Team All-Pro selections, two Second Team All-Pro selections and a spot on the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.
Watt will join team founder and former owner the late Bob McNair and former All-Pro receiver Andre Johnson as just the third Texan in the Ring of Honor.
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