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Steelers advantage TJ Watt is boosted for one game.
The big news as the 2022 NFL regular season draws to a close, playoff standings aside, is the retirement announcement of the future Hall of Famer JJ Watt.
On the day the news broke — December 27 — Watt’s little brother and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker TJWatt had no words. Instead, he sub-tweeted a GIF of Michael Scott from “The Office” all tears in their eyes.
TJ spoke for the first time about his brother’s impending retirement a few days later during a conference on December 30 press conference.
He’s been talking about it for a while. I never knew how serious he was until the last two months,” Watt said. Super proud and happy for him, delighted to see him play for the past two weeks. Just one hell of a career.
But the question on every Steelers fan’s mind was whether JJ would come to Pittsburgh to join his younger brothers. Specifically, the reporter asked, “Is he going to pull a Gronk and come out of retirement to find you at some point.”
TJ said with a laugh, “You should ask him that.”
He doesn’t say no.
For years, every time he hit free agency, Steelers fans have been clamoring for JJ Watt to join TJ in Pittsburgh.
The “Gronk” reference comes from famous Rob “Gronk” Gronkowski came out of retirement meet with Tom Brady in Tampa Bay in 2020. The pair won a fourth Super Bowl together in 2021 before Gronk has retired for a second, and what seems to be final, time.
TJ Watt can still achieve JJ Watt status
TJ Watt still has a lot of seasons ahead of him to achieve JJ Watt status, as the youngest Watt has been in the league for exactly half the time that JJ
TJ is on his way, though, with three first-team All-Pro nominations and five Pro Bowls. He led the NFL for the past two seasons, finally reaching the top last season, Achieve an NFL record in a single season 22.5 sacks (Michael Strahan), earning him his first Defensive Player of the Year wink in 2021.
The oldest Watt will retire after 12 seasons as a future first-round Hall of Famer. He was drafted 11th overall by the Houston Texans in 2011 and facing west to the Arizona Cardinals in 2021. By the end of his pro career on Sunday, Jan. 8, Watt will have north recorded 110.0 sacks, 580 total tackles, 191 tackles for loss, 313 quarterback hits and 69 passes defended. He also has two interceptions, both for touchdowns.
After a strong rookie season, Watt went on a tear from 2012 to 2015, recording 69 sacks, 315 total tackles and 119 tackles for loss. In two seasons, he was the NFL leader in sacks (2012, 2105) and three-time leader in tackles for loss. Those performances earned him four straight First-Team All-Pro nominations and a whopping three Defensive Player of the Year rewards. DPOY has been awarded three times to only two other players: Lawrence Taylor and Aaron Donald.
But who counts? Probably the Watt brothers. Like most siblings, especially athletes, they have fierce competitive spirits.
The Watt Brothers at Heinz Field
In 2020, JJ, Derek and TJ Watt stepped onto the football pitch for the first time in their professional careers. Derek had played JJ and TJ against JJ but never had all three of them.
By CBS NFL, they became just the second set of brothers since 1930 to appear in the same NFL game. Interestingly, the first group also involved the Steelers. Safety Terrell Edmunds and his running brother Trey have played together in Pittsburgh before. In 2019, they faced their brother Tremaine when the Steelers faced the Bills.
Although it appears when JJ Watt officially retires, it will be for good. But like Brett FavreRob Gronkowski and Tom Brady taught us, never say never.
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