Former Texan JJ Watt Almost Joined Packers After Leaving Houston

Former Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt became not just a staple on the defense line in Houston, but also in the community, and a large fan favorite. He left for the Arizona Cardinals in 2021 after requesting his release from Houston, then retired last year.

Former Texans pass rusher J.J. Watt was an anchor on the defensive line in Houston for 10 seasons after being drafted 11th overall in the 2011 NFL Draft.

He became not just a staple on the defense, but also in the community, and a large fan favorite. He left for the Arizona Cardinals in 2021 after requesting his release from Houston, then retired last year.

But some thought he might target the Packers in his home state of Wisconsin when he left the Texans. Watt recently appeared on the Rise and Schein podcast with Adam Schein, and “There’s certainly a part of me that thought about that,” Watt said. “There’s a story for another day.

“I can’t share. That’s a story for like a memoir someday. There was certainly a thought for that. It’s just sometimes don’t materialize in a way that it all is gonna — sometimes it just doesn’t materialize.”

Schein tried one last question: “Did you think there was a chance and maybe you wanted it and they didn’t?”

“Sometimes, things just don’t materialize,” Watt said. “Sometimes things just don’t happen the way fairy tales are supposed to happen.” 

Instead, Watt's career ended quietly in Arizona after two seasons in the desert. But for the fans in Houston, he'll always be a Texan.

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