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Former NFL defensive end and three-time Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt has squashed rumors that he could un-retire to join the Detroit Lions. One of the best players of his generation, Watt retired after the 2022 season, but talks about a possible return to the game have emerged every once in a while.
On Monday, however, he took to Twitter to explain why he doesn't feel like stepping on an NFL field anymore:
The Detroit Lions defeated the Dallas Cowboys in a 46-9 beatdown on Sunday, but it wasn't all perfect, as star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson broke his tibia and underwent surgery. A strong candidate for Defensive Player of the Year in 2024 with 7.5 sacks in four and a half games, Hutchinson is expected to miss the remainder of the NFL season.
After an NFL career that spanned over 12 seasons between the Houston Texans and the Arizona Cardinals, Watt retired after the 2022 season but told head coach DeMeco Ryans that "if the Texans needed him, they could call." But it seems that unretirement is not a priority for him.
His brother, T.J. Watt, remains an elite defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers, with over 100 sacks in his career and a Defensive Player of the Year award of his own in 2021.
How good was J.J. Watt in his prime?
He was a dominant force in the league back in the day. J.J. was named the Defensive Player of the Year three times during his first five seasons, and he was unstoppable back then. In 2014, the second time he won the award, there was a real discussion about whether he deserved to be named MVP instead of Aaron Rodgers.
One important thing to notice is that the former defensive end was able to win three DPOY awards in the same decade as Aaron Donald. He surpassed 20 sacks two times during his career while also leading the league in sacks twice.
After a slew of injuries, it became difficult for him to return to his prime, but J.J. was still playing at a very high level. Unfortunately, neither the Texans nor the Cardinals were able to give him a Super Bowl ring.
