HOUSTON – Houston jeans have released star defender JJ Watt, granting his request.
Watt was drafted by the Texans in 2011 with the No. 11 pick and became the face of the franchise, winning three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards between 2012 and 2015. Watt is one of three players to has won this award three times.
“I sat down with the McNair family and asked them for release and at this point we agreed to separate,” Watt said in a video posted on Twitter. “I came here ten years ago when I was a kid from Wisconsin who had never been to Texas before. And now I can’t imagine my life without Texas. The way you treated me, other than the draft night. I that is, you kissed me on draft night, but every day afterwards you treated me like a family.And I really feel like you are my family.
“… I’m excited and I look forward to a new opportunity and I’ve been working really hard. But at the same time, it’s always hard to move on. And I just want you to know that I love you thank you. drafted and give me the first chance in the NFL. “
Watt is coming off his second 16-game season since 2015, having suffered several end-of-season injuries since then.
Houston, I wanted you to hear this directly from me … pic.twitter.com/YqT3P6Lb6l
– JJ Watt (@JJWatt) February 12, 2021
“Change is never easy, especially when it comes to the ones you love. The impact of JJ not only on our organization, but on the entire Houston community, doesn’t look like any player in the history of our franchise.” , Cal McNair, president and CEO of Texans, said in a prepared statement. “I told JJ earlier this week that we would consider him a Texan forever. We are reassured to know that this is not a farewell, but a ‘see you soon.’ For now, we will rely on the basis that JJ created here and we will move forward with our unwavering mission to bring a championship to our city, create memorable experiences for our fans and do great things for Houston. ”
In 2020, Watt was ranked 15th out of 119 qualified step runners in the Rush Pass Earnings percentage, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. He finished the season with five sacks, two forts and an interception that came back for a touchdown.
Watt is by far the most productive runner in the history of jeans, with 101 career sacks. Since the first season of the franchise in 2002, there have only been two players in team history with more than 30 career wrecks (Whitney Mercilus at 54 and Mario Williams at 53).
During the season, Watt made it clear that he was not interested in playing on a team that was going through a “rebuild.”
“I don’t think it’s any secret that I don’t have ten years left in this league,” Watt said in November. “Personally, I think I have some other greats left. But you can’t either … I don’t want to rebuild. I want to go after a championship, and that’s what I want. To do.”
When asked at the end of the season if he believed the 2021 jeans would be in rebuild mode, Watt said there are “so many unknown factors in this situation right now that can’t be said for sure.”
Watt had one year left for the contract he signed in 2014. He was owed $ 17.5 million in 2021, but his salary was not guaranteed. He is now free to sign with another team.