J.J. Watt Sign with Steelers? Texans Icon Reveals Why Not

Was J.J. Watt ever going to leave the Texans for the Steelers? It seems not … all due to a form of financial brotherly love.

When J.J. Watt was allowed to leave the Houston Texans in spring 2021, he had options. The Arizona Cardinals landed him with a two-year deal that preceded his recent retirement.

But during an appearance on the Green Light Podcast with Chris Long, Watt revealed not only that the Steelers were on his list of potential teams. … but also the unusual circumstance that led to him passing on the experience to play alongside his two brothers in Pittsburgh.

The reason? A form of financial brotherly love, for had he tried to work the Steelers for the deal he deserved, he feared it might serve as an impediment for brother T.J. and his contract situation. T.J. was also working on his own future …

So … In the end, J.J. Watt made the decision to sign with the Cardinals.

But now? Watt, an all-time All-Pro, recently announced that he's joining CBS Sports as an NFL analyst and will in 2023 be appearing on "The NFL Today" pregame show. There is a great deal of sense to that. He talks the part. He looks the part. Slap a suit and tie on him and away he goes ...

To Pittsburgh? Well, not exactly. The Steelers are in the AFC, of course, as are the Texans. That means CBS will generally be working the Steelers games. And as it happens, J.J.'s brothers - star T.J. and helper Derek - are members of the Steelers roster.

So yes, J.J. will get to sit in the studio in New York (we presume), and keep an eye on all the games ... and if he chooses during pregame, halftime or postgame, make snarky remarks about his brothers ... which of course is standard operating procedure for this trio when you see them interacting on social media.

No, he's not going to play for the maybe-contending Steelers. Nor is he going to come out of retirement to help the Texans as they try to fight their way out of the NFL basement. He did joke, though, about his fake price for a return to the league.

Does Pittsburgh or Houston want the future Hall of Famer? Watt said he'd do it ... for $20 million for one game.

And now you get a taste for what's coming to CBS ... and for what the Steelers never really had a shot at.

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