JJ Watt will be honored by the Houston Texans

The Houston Texans will honor former defensive end JJ Watt as the team inducts him into the « Circle of Honor » on Oct. 1 at halftime between the Texans and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Watt announced his retirement at the end of last season while playing for the Arizona Cardinals. The 34-year-old American is the most decorated player in Texans history. He finished his career in the NFL with a total of 114.5 quarterback sacks in 12 seasons.

The Texans selected Watt 11th overall in the 2011 draft after he was playing at the University of Wisconsin at the time. The popular No. 99 went on to play 10 seasons in Houston. Watt is the third player from the franchise to be inducted into the Circle of Honor, joining Robert C. McNair and Andre Johnson.

“We are thrilled to have JJ join the Circle of Honor as the third member. Everyone knows what JJ means to our family, the Texans organization and the entire city of Houston, said franchise owners Janice, Hannah and Cal McNair. He is one of the most dominant players in NFL history and has created a unique and irreplaceable bond with our fans. JJ has always held a special place in the hearts of Houston and we are thrilled to welcome him back. On behalf of the entire organization, we can’t wait to give JJ and his family the celebration he deserves on October 1st. »

During his time in Houston, Watt managed to capture three NFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player awards.

In 2017, the native of Pewaukee, Wisconsin won the Walter Payton Trophy, awarded to the player who had the biggest impact on the community, when he raised $41.6 million following Hurricane Harvey.