JJ Watt reveals what he's most proud of from his time in the NFL

Over the span of a 12-year NFL career, there’s a lot JJ Watt accomplished. But when he revealed what he’s most proud of from his time in the league, it might be a bit of a surprise.

Watt jumped on the Green Light podcast with Chris Long now that he’s entering his first offseason without football in over a decade. That’s when the question came up about the star’s proudest moment on the field.

It’s actually the moment he left the field for the final time.

“Man, that’s a good question. This is partially a selfish thing but it was really, really cool to me,” Watt said. “The fact that, after 12 years in the NFL, my last game and my last play, I walked off an opponent’s stadium in my own division and they chanted my name, while my son and my wife and my parents were in the crowd.

“To be able to do something for 12 years … for opposing fans to be able to do that for my last game and for the opposing team to put my name on the scoreboard as I walked off the field for the last time with my wife and son and parents, I’m proud of the fact that’s how I left the game.”

Even for a player of Watt’s caliber, that had to be a surreal moment.

Watt ended his career with the Arizona Cardinals, playing his final game against the San Francisco 49ers. The Cardinals lost the contest 38-13, but it’s not what Watt remembers most from his final appearance in an NFL uniform.

Watt enjoyed incredible 12-year NFL career

There’s no doubt Watt will wind up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame one day. Although he never won a Super Bowl ring, he owns a laundry-list of impressive accomplishments.

Watt spent 10 of his 12 seasons with the Houston Texans before playing his final two years in Arizona. He was a three-time Defensive Player of the Year winner and earned five trips to the Pro Bowl.

Watt led the NFL in sacks twice and was a five-time first-team All-Pro. In 2017, he was Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year and was named to the NFL’s All-Decade team for the 2010s.

When his career concluded, Watt tallied a total of 586 tackles and 114.5 sacks. He was also responsible for 27 forced fumbles and 17 fumble recoveries.

Watt will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the top defensive players ever to suit up in the NFL.