Arizona Cardinals: Twitter reacts to J.J. Watt’s retirement

After 12 seasons in the NFL and two with the Arizona Cardinals, defensive end J.J. Watt is calling it a Hall of Fame career. 

Now that reality has sunk in regarding Arizona Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt calling it quits after a decorated 12-year career, let’s take to Twitter and check out what some notable people had to say upon hearing the big news. Below, you will find my five favorite Twitter reactions from some of our favorite journalists and anchors in the sports media covering the Arizona Cardinals.

Just two days ago, I included J.J. Watt as one of five players the Cardinals should re-sign. That will not happen now, but it doesn’t mean Watt can’t be part of the organization in some capacity. It would be great to have Watt join the team in a front office role to help change the culture here if is something he would like to pursue.

I love this Tweet because it’s bold. Watt is a former tight end, after all, and the Arizona Cardinals have nothing to lose at this point. Giving Watt a chance to haul in a touchdown pass would end his career with an exclamation point.

Twitter reacts to Arizona Cardinals defensive end’s retirement announcement

This post pretty much puts the debate to sleep over whether J.J. Watt is a Hall of Famer. When you earn Defensive Player of the Year three times, you are a lock for Canton, Ohio.

This is also something I love to see. While Watt showed this season that he has at least another good year or two left in the tank, retiring at age 33 and near the top of his game shows me that he’s willing to retire on his terms. This is something you just have to respect, and it is also something I wouldn’t mind seeing more often in the NFL, as opposed to players retiring when they were a shell of their former selves.

Here is yet another one I love, simply because it demonstrates how effective Watt was in his 12th and final season. When you have former players like Cris Collinsworth emphasizing just how good Watt played this past season, and that he was a better player at age 33 than the former NFL great was in their prime, only then do you realize how special Watt’s 2022 campaign became.

Overall, it was great to see J.J. Watt play at such a high level this year. And while it would have been great to see him return for one more run, the players I respect the most are those who hang up the cleats a few years earlier. Football is a strenuous game, and for players to call it a career sooner than later means the odds are better they will preserve their bodies and health for the long haul.

Here is to wishing J.J. Watt the best, and perhaps we will still see him around the building in a different capacity soon enough. After all, most NFL players never retire. They simply repurpose.

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