Future NFL Hall of Famer confirms retirement in emotional post

One of the best defenders to ever play in the NFL has left fans in disbelief after making a shock call on his playing future.

J.J. Watt has all but confirmed his retirement from the NFL. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

It sounds like J.J. Watt is calling it a career.

He certainly implied as much in a Twitter post on Tuesday – a pair of photos with his wife Kealia and newborn son Koa, in which he said Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers would be his “last ever NFL home game.”

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“Koa’s first ever NFL game. My last ever NFL home game. My heart is filled with nothing but love and gratitude. It’s been an absolute honour and a pleasure,” Watt’s tweet read.

Watt, 33, has played 12 seasons in the NFL, 10 with the Houston Texans and the final two with the Arizona Cardinals.

He is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, having won the award in 2012, 2014 and 2015.

He has never made a Super Bowl, but is still a sure-fire Hall of Famer and arguably one of the best to ever play the game.

JJ Watt is retiring from the NFL after this season.

He’s been an incredible player, of course.

But he also raised over $40 million after Hurricane Harvey in 2017, which helped rebuild more than 1,200 homes in the Houston Area.

That’s the stuff people will remember forever. pic.twitter.com/DGupQfbvrv

— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) December 27, 2022

One of the best to ever play on defense. He might be the best player from Wisconsin ever. Thanks for everything JJ.

Should’ve won MVP BTW. https://t.co/da0D8ehPup

— Brennen Scarborough (@bpscarborough) December 27, 2022

With two games left, Watt has 111.5 career sacks, which is 38th in NFL history.

With another half sack, he could pass his former Cardinals teammate, Chandler Jones.

Arizona has floundered to 4-11 on the season, and a final playoff run for Watt is out of the picture. But if 2022 is indeed his last season, he will leave as a legend.

Earlier in the season, it was reported he had a heart issue, though he did not miss any games.

In response to Tuesday’s retirement reveal, dozens of NFL players flooded Watt’s social media pages with supportive messages.

“One of the best ever,” Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu commented on Instagram, while Watt’s Cardinals teammate, running back James Conner, posted, “Baddest on the Planet.”

This story originally appeared on the New York Post and has been reposted with permission

Originally published as Future NFL Hall of Famer confirms retirement in emotional post