TEMPE, Arizona. – JJ Watt has always had a fondness for the common man, even though he looks more like Superman.
So it’s fitting that the funniest anecdote from the press conference marking the retirement of one of the best defensive players in NFL history included little-known Arizona Cardinals teammate rookie linebacker Jesse Luketa.
“That’s by far the best story,” Watt said Wednesday.
Three-time AP Defensive Player of the Year posted on social media on Tuesday that he intends to retire at the end of this season, which Watt knew would result in a deluge of congratulations and messages from friends and teammates. So he put his phone away, took his newborn son to the pediatrician for a regular appointment, and returned a few hours later to check his messages.
Around that time, he received a strange video message from a number he didn’t recognize. He then got a voice memo from the same number in which a person slurred his speech and said things Watt couldn’t understand.
“What the hell is that?” Watt thought.
Then an image appeared. It was Luketa. He had cotton balls stuffed in his mouth and was crazy about anesthesia. It turns out the rookie had his wisdom teeth removed that morning. Right after waking up, he received the news that Watt was retiring and wanted to know if the future Hall of Famer would give him a jersey.
“I’m laughing my ass off,” Watt said.
Watt said Luketa later apologized for the message. The five-time All-Pro said no apologies were needed.
“He gets the jersey,” said Watt. “I told him he made my day.”
The story was a window into what made the 33-year-old Watt a popular player and teammate during a decade with the Houston Texans and two others with the Cardinals. Yes, his 111 1/2 career sacks are impressive. Ditto for his 193 tackles for loss. But he will be remembered just as much for his personality, his love of the game and his love of people.
Before every home game this season, Watt could be seen playing tag on the sidelines with kids in the stands and looked like he was having as much fun as everyone else in the stadium. During his 10 years in Texas, he was one of Houston’s most popular athletes, raising more than $40 million for Hurricane Harvey relief, earning him the 2017 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.
Watt said he’s tried never to lose sight of the fact that he’s playing a game and that a huge support team makes that possible.
“It really is the best job in the world,” Watt said. “I chase a little ball around, I can attack people. It’s incredible. People do my laundry, people set up the drills, people take down the drills, people set up the weights so I can lift them, people do the food, people clean the food.
“What more do you want? On top of that, I get paid for it.”
Watt has two games left. Both are on the road, in Atlanta and San Francisco. The 6-foot-5, 288-pounder still plays great football: He had three sacks against Denver on Dec. 18 and two tackles for a loss to Tampa Bay on Christmas Day. His 9 1/2 sacks this season is his most since 2018.
After the game at Christmas, Watt posed for pictures in the field with his family including his parents, his wife Kealia and their newborn son Koa. Watt said he had been planning to retire for months and seeing these pictures cemented his decision.
A health crisis earlier this season – his heart needed to be put into a rhythm after suffering from atrial fibrillation – also played a role.
“It’s the right time,” Watt said. “I put so much into the game. The wins, the losses, the mental stress and passion that comes with it. It only weighs you down. It’s hard, it’s really hard. Losses are hard to take. You live with ups and downs.”
As for leaving if he’s still playing well? Watt said that was just another blessing.
“I’d much rather go out and play good football knowing I can still play,” Watt said.
One of the few flaws on Watt’s resume is that he has never won a championship. He played in nine playoff games in his 12 seasons and his teams won three of them. This year’s Cardinals are 4-11 and were eliminated from the postseason.
Watt admitted it’s always going to hurt a little, but it’s more than outweighed by gratitude.
“I’ve been playing this game since I was 10 years old,” Watt said. “It was an incredible ride. If you had told me then that I would play 12 years in the National Football League, meet the people I have met, achieve the things I have achieved, live the life I have lived, I would be very grateful been. ”
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