​Few players in NFL history have matched the defensive résumé of J.J. Watt. The former Wisconsin star, selected No. 11 overall by the Houston Texans in 2011, compiled 114.5 sacks over 12 seasons with Houston and the Arizona Cardinals, earning Defensive Player of the Year honors three times. Watt announced in December 2022 that the season would be his last, and he closed his career the following January with 2.0 sacks and five tackles in a game against the San Francisco 49ers. Retirement hasn’t kept Watt away from sports, though. In May 2023, he and his wife, Kealia Watt—a former U.S. women’s national team forward—acquired a minority stake in English club Burnley.
That stake sparked a wagering twist. In December 2024, Watt and Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford agreed via Instagram direct messages that Watt would come out of retirement and play for Trafford’s favorite NFL team, the Cincinnati Bengals, if Trafford did not concede another league goal during the remainder of the 2024-25 season, according to ESPN. Trafford came close to meeting the condition but ultimately allowed a goal. Watt later joked about the episode, noting in a video interview with WCPO 9 sports director Caleb Noe, who covers the Bengals for the station, that he would have been “1000% serious” about pulling on the Bengals’ stripes if Trafford had somehow pulled it off. Two days after Trafford’s streak ended, Watt discussed the bet on The Pat McAfee Show, saying he had told his wife he would play for the veteran minimum to honor it.
Watt even used humor to react to the outcome on social media, posting that he didn’t like Skyline Chili after the ironic twist. Meanwhile, the Bengals have spent the offseason retooling the defense Watt would have joined. After a 6-11 campaign and a third-place finish in the AFC North, Cincinnati traded the No. 10 overall pick to the New York Giants for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II in April, then signed Lawrence to a one-year, $28 million extension that runs through 2028 and added Jonathan Allen on a two-year deal.
Looking ahead, Cincinnati opens the preseason at home against Detroit on August 13 at Paycor Stadium and starts the regular season at home against Tampa Bay on Sunday, September 13. Watt, for his part, will be watching from home as the Bengals pursue another strong season. His legacy, built on discipline, versatility, and relentless pressure, remains one of the most accomplished defensive résumés in NFL history.