J.J. Watt Retirement From NFL After 12 Season 2022

J.J. Watt Retirement Announces From NFL After 12 Season 2022 | Three-Time NFL Defensive Player of Year will Leave the Game | J.J. Watt Retirement NFL Celebrates

J.J. Watt Retirement

On Tuesday, Arizona Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt essentially announced his retirement after the 2022 season. The Houston Texans drafted Watt with the No. 11 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, and he spent 10 years with the team before joining the Cardinals in 2021.

The 33-year-old's retirement comes three months after he suffered atrial fibrillation, which requires his heart to be shocked back into rhythm. Despite the issue, Watt has played in 14 games so far this season, while remaining one of the better defensive ends in the NFL.

The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year posted a photo on social media with his wife and son Koa with the caption, "Koa's first ever NFL game. My last ever NFL home game. My heart is filled with nothing but love and gratitude. It's been an absolute honour and a pleasure.."

The three-time NFL Defensive Player

The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year revealed the news in a post with his wife, soccer player Kealia Ohai, and their newborn son, Koa, at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Arizona on Monday.

A picture of himself was presented after losing to

The 4-11 Cardinals have two more games left this season, both on the road: Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons and their season finale against the San Francisco 49ers.

Although the team has struggled with injury issues in 2022, Watt has played like his usual self, recording 9.5 sacks through 14 games to go along with a fumble recovery and a forced fumble.

A five-time Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro, Watt is the only NFL player ever to record multiple 20-sack seasons, both of which came during his decade with the Houston Texans. He has played the past two seasons with the Cardinals.

Watt was also named the 2017 recipient of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award for his well-known philanthropic efforts.

Watt's charity, the Justin J. Watt Foundation, provides after-school activities in many communities, providing a safe place for kids to get involved in athletics. Most of the program's schools are located in Texas, where he played for a decade, along with his native Wisconsin, as well as Alabama, Illinois and California.

JJ Watt announces RETIREMENT from the NFL after 12 seasons

He helped raise $37 million for victims of Hurricane Harvey in the Houston area, and offered to pay funeral expenses for families of victims after mass shootings.

Watt revealed the heart problem in October, saying he went into atrial fibrillation on September 29 and needed to shock his heart back into rhythm. He also revealed that he made the disclosure because the information was about to be leaked.

After the Oct. 2 win against the Carolina Panthers, Watt said he felt betrayed that his private medical information was shared with the media.

'The only people who knew were my family and people in the building,' Watt said.

'Wound, I don't care. You leak wounds. That is football. But it was very emotional for me, so it was upsetting.'

Watt had one of the best seasons ever for a defensive player. Here's a look at this year:

Texans plan to celebrate his legacy soon.

Watt will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2028. He should be a first ballot Hall of Famer.

UW Madison, where Watt starred collegiately, congratulated the former Badger.