JJ Watt 'concerned' about bet with Burnley GK James Trafford, coming out of NFL retirement

English Championship side Burnley are currently on a fine run of form having gone unbeaten since a Nov. 3 defeat to Millwall. That pleases JJ Watt, a minority investor for the club. At the same time, that scares him based on his bet with Clarets goalkeeper James Trafford.

Back in December, Trafford sent a direct message on Instagram to Watt asking if the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year fancied coming out of retirement to play for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2025. Watt agreed, as long as Trafford secured a clean sheet in every match for the remainder of the season. Seven league matches have since passed since Watt made the bet. Trafford has still yet to allow one past him.

Watt, speaking on Wednesday’s “Pat McAfee Show,” admitted it’s starting to get “a little dicey” for him.

Are you gonna be playing for the Cincinnati Bengals..

"I'm starting to get a little concerned..

It's getting a little dicey here" ~ @JJWatt #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/vX3NzdAUAl

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 29, 2025

“We’re setting records for club shutouts — seven in a row, only given up nine goals in 26 matches, so no big deal,” Watt said. “… Starting to literally get a little more concerned about it as we go because Leeds was top of the table, it was a great matchup between two teams at the top of the table. They didn’t put one past him [Trafford], and we don’t have anybody at the top of the table coming up. So, it’s getting a little dicey here. We’ve only given up nine in 26 — the ratios are starting to get a little wild.”

JJ Watt’s Burnley putting up historic numbers in English Championship

Burnley have allowed just nine goals in 29 league matches this season, on pace to set an English football record for fewest goals conceded in a single campaign. Sitting third in the table with 57 points, Burnley are battling for promotion back to the Premier League alongside Leeds United, Sheffield United and Sunderland among others.

That’s great news for the 142-year-old club relegated from the Premier League last season, and for Watt as well. But if Trafford’s streak continues, that means we could see Watt back in the NFL.

The 35-year-old is hoping Trafford lets at least one by him at some point.

“I don’t want to tackle, I don’t want to be hit anymore, I don’t want to wake up at 5 a.m. to go do a field goal block meeting. I really have no interest in those,” Watt said. “Don’t wanna stay after for the meetings. I just really enjoy setting my own schedule and doing what I like to do. I generally don’t love all those things and having a guy count my reps as I do pull-ups in the weight room, you know?”