J.J. Watt Announces Retirement In Last Home Game Of Decorated Career

J.J. Watt has accomplished so much in his NFL career, and there is no question that he will be a future first-ballot Hall of Famer.

The 33-year-old defensive end formally announced on social media on Tuesday, December 27, which would mark his last home game as well.

The Cardinals bowed to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in overtime on Sunday, December 25, 16-19.

"Koa's (son) first-ever NFL game. My last ever NFL home game," Watt posted on Twitter. "My heart is filled with nothing but love and gratitude. It's been an absolute honor and a pleasure."

Watt signed with the Arizona Cardinals in March 2021, agreeing to a two-year deal worth $28 million—with $23 million of which was guaranteed.

In that same year, Watt suffered a shoulder injury in the second quarter of a Week 7 matchup against his former team—the Houston Texans—but somehow managed to stay in the game.

He ended up requiring season-ending shoulder surgery and was placed on the injured reserve in November 2021.

Watt managed to return in time for the clash with the Los Angeles Rams back in January. However, his comeback was spoiled with the Rams winning the Wild Card.

Such was only one of several instances that the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year proved that he was tough as nails.

Among his other achievements as a professional football player included winning the 2017 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award, being a five-time First-team All-Pro, a two-time Second-team All-Pro, and being a five-time Pro Bowl member.

Watt will wrap up his NFL career with two games on the road. These will be against the Atlanta Falcons and the San Francisco 49ers.

Before the Cardinals, the only other team that Watt had played for is the Texans, the same team that made him the 11th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.

Koa is the 32-year-old defensive end's first child. It will also be recalled that back in September, Watt had the rhythm of his own heart reset after experiencing atrial fibrillation.

He would spring back to action a couple of days later.

Watt has 111.5 sacks (26th on the NFL's career list), a statistic that has officially been tracked since 1982.

Moreover, he is the only player to record 20-plus sacks in multiple seasons (2012, 2014).