LOOK: J.J. Watt receives stuffed badger from Wisconsin fan

Fan mail can lead to a lot of things. It can be positive, negative, or just downright weird and, based on what J.J. Watt received earlier this week, it will qualify as the last of those options.

From a tweet Watt posted, a fan sent him a taxidermied Badger in the mail. Watt spent two seasons at Wisconsin as a Badger in college and, with his football career coming to a close, somebody commemorated his time in Madison in one of the stranger ways possible.

I have received a lot of wild fan mail over the years.

This package that arrived today is certainly being added to the list. pic.twitter.com/dxBi0rTwHE

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) January 5, 2023

Watt transferred to Wisconsin after his freshman season at Central Michigan. In his two years with the Badgers, he finished with 74 tackles (36.5 of them for loss), 11.5 sacks, and an interception. That production helped him win the Ronnie Lott Trophy in 2010 before being drafted 11th overall in the 2011 NFL Draft.

Watt is wrapping up his 12th NFL season, his second in Arizona with the Cardinals, and will call it a career once it concludes after he announced his retirement on December 27th. Still, after years of playing football, this is a moment Watt likely won’t ever forget from his time as a player.

Watt announces retirement after 2022 season

It appears J.J. Watt’s time in the NFL is coming to an end. The Arizona Cardinals star announced his retirement following the conclusion of the 2022 season in a tweet Tuesday morning.

Watt tweeted a photo of his family’s at the Cardinals’ game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week, commemorating his newborn son’s first NFL game. Then, he confirmed it was his last home game — confirming he plans to retire after the season.

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 honor and a pleasure.

🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/wXbDUcHM8B

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) December 27, 2022

Watt is in his 12th NFL season, starting out with the Houston Texans from 2011-20 before arriving in Arizona ahead of the 2021 season. A three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, he appeared in five Pro Bowls, earned five All-Pro selections and won the 2017 Walter Payton Man of the Year award, among his many accolades.

During his NFL career, Watt has totaled 580 tackles, 111.5 sacks and two interceptions. Although injuries became a problem the last couple years, he’s in the midst of a good bounce-back year, though, with 33 tackles and 9.5 sacks.