Watt, Texans ‘mutually’ agree to split in more team upheaval
By admin - February 12, 2021

J.J. Watt didn’t just play for the Houston Texans, he was the Houston Texans. Here are the highlights:

  • “I have sat down with the McNair family and I have asked them for my release and we have mutually agreed to part ways at this time,” Watt said Friday in a video on social media.
  • The three-time Defensive Player of the Year and 2017 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year spent his entire career with the Texans after being drafted 11th overall in 2011.
  • The star defensive end had one year remaining on a six-year, $100 million contract.
  • “The connection I have with the people of Houston is special, and I will never take that for granted because I know how rare it is,” Watt said in the video. “I just want you to know that I love you and I appreciate you. I want to thank the McNair family for drafting me and giving me my first opportunity in the NFL. Thank you, Houston.”
  • “He’s just everything that we really want to do here… epitomized,” team owner Cal McNair said. “He was a great role model for the fans and teammates and to show people how to do things and do things the right way. So he was wonderful that way.”
  • Watt received recognition for his humanitarian efforts after raising more than $40 million for Hurricane Harvey relief in 2017.
  • “Simply put, there has been no person in the past decade who has made a greater impact on the Texans organization than J.J. Watt,” team co-founder and senior chair Janice McNair said.