​J.J. Watt’s NFL career officially concluded with the Arizona Cardinals in 2022, after spending a decade with the Houston Texans in the AFC. Yet there was a surprisingly close call that nearly altered the defensive end’s retirement plans. In reflecting on a running joke involving Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford, Watt, a Bengals superfan, revealed that what began as light-hearted banter escalated to the point where he would have seriously considered suiting up for the Cincinnati Bengals—his AFC rivals at one time.
“I feel like I have a kinship with Cincinnati over the years, probably early on not for good reasons, and then later, we had some fun with it,” Watt said in a recent interview, a clip of which was shared by Queen City Press. “But for some reason, the Bengals, the city of Cincinnati, and myself have kind of been intertwined my whole career. It was a fun, crazy time, because James and I were just messing around. He’s a big Bengals fan. But since then, I’ve seen him wearing a lot of different jerseys. So, I question his Bengals fandom.”
“But when I made that joke, I was just kidding,” the former defensive end explained. “Then all of a sudden, I think it was like 14 games in a row or something, I started training a little bit more. Not really having any interest, but I was 1000% serious if he somehow, in an insane way, managed to do it. I would have put on the stripes.”
The wager was simple but loaded against Trafford. Watt had promised to join the Bengals for the 2025 season if Trafford could maintain a clean sheet and concede zero goals for the remaining games on that year’s calendar. Trafford did keep a clean sheet for 11 consecutive games. Yet on March 4, 2025, Cardiff City’s Yousef Salech found the net in the 42nd minute, ending Watt’s unlikely return to the field for Cincinnati.
“What an unbelievable run for Traff and the boys. An improbable bond formed from across the pond. Bengals fans are welcome on Turf Moor anytime. As for me: a feast and a drink await,” Watt wrote on X afterward.
Beyond the playful bet, Watt appears to harbor a sincere affection for Cincinnati. In addition to being a part-owner of Burnley FC, the former NFL star highlighted his appreciation for the city’s culinary staples, naming Graeter’s Ice Cream and Montgomery Inn BBQ as favorites. He also praised the vibe at TQL Stadium and the Bengals’ fans.
“I feel like I have a kinship with Cincinnati over the years, probably early on not for good reasons, and then later on, we had some fun with it,” Watt told reporters on Friday night. “For some reason, the Bengals, the city of Cincinnati, and myself have kind of been intertwined my whole career.”