Arizona Cardinals defensive finish JJ Watt is retiring after this season

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Arizona Cardinals defensive finish JJ Watt, one of many best defensive gamers in NFL historical past, will retire after the 2022 season, sources say introduced on Tuesday.

Watt, the three-time NFL Defensive Participant of the 12 months, stated he performed his “final” house recreation final Sunday, a 19-16 time beyond regulation loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“My coronary heart is crammed with love and gratitude,” Watt wrote on Twitter. “It was an absolute honor and a pleasure.”

Arizona’s two remaining video games of the season have been performed – on Sunday with the Atlanta Falcons and on January eighth with the San Francisco 49ers.

“The pleasure was all ours” The cardinals responded in a tweet.

Generally known as a dominant go rusher, Watt is prone to be inducted into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame. for which he’s eligible in 2028.

The 33-year-old has been named Defensive Participant of the 12 months 3 times, together with Los Angeles Rams’ Aaron Donald and New York Giants’ Lawrence Taylor.

The seven-time All Professional and five-time Professional Bowl choose was chosen with the eleventh total choose within the 2011 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans, in line with the NFL, the place he performed his first 10 seasons. He owns the Texas franchise report for many profession sacks with 101.

In March 2021, Watt signed a two-year contract with the Cardinals as a free agent.

Watt is understood for his work off the sector.

After Hurricane Harvey devastated areas round Houston and the remainder of the Gulf Coast in August 2017, Watt launched into his most career-defining charity drive but.

By means of a YouCaring marketing campaign and loads of social media consideration and the assistance of some well-known buddies, Watt raised greater than $37 million for victims of the flooding and harm left behind by Harvey. His fundraising efforts earned him the 2017 Walter Payton NFL Man of the 12 months Award, which acknowledges NFL participant charity and volunteerism.

Watt has two brothers, TJ and Derek, who play within the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The three Watt brothers performed school soccer on the College of Wisconsin.

JJ Watt introduced in a social media put up earlier this season that he was present process remedy for atrial fibrillation — an irregular heartbeat described by many victims as the guts “trembling,” “fluttering,” or “flip-flopping.” .