'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAMDAwMDAwQEBAQFBQUFBQcHBgYHBwsICQgJCAsRCwwLCwwLEQ8SDw4PEg8bFRMTFRsfGhkaHyYiIiYwLTA+PlQBAwMDAwMDBAQEBAUFBQUFBwcGBgcHCwgJCAkICxELDAsLDAsRDxIPDg8SDxsVExMVGx8aGRofJiIiJjAtMD4+VP/AABEIAAYACgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xABgAAEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABggQAAICAgIDAQAAAAAAAAAAAAECAxEABQYhBAcTQQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwQRAAICAwEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAERAgMAIVEEIv/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8AxPxLm8Gg3EE8OrgHw8VoQw7LlgqM7qxqzV5VH3BrVJV4NijDplQwFAf0LaXWMYNFcE1tAZV6L7TI/ScydBc5n//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
J.J. Watt will be playing in his final NFL game as the Arizona Cardinals will face the San Francisco 49ers in Week 18. When the Cardinals defensive end announced his retirement, it sent shockwaves throughout the league.
Now that the final game of both the regular season and his career is here, it's hard for Watt not to be emotional. While tributes have poured in from players and fans alike, there was one that hit close to home for Watt.
Pittsburgh Steelers fullback Derek and linebacker T.J. Watt, J.J.'s brothers, shared a post wearing J.J.'s No. 99 Cardinals jersey to honor him. The five-time All-Pro was at a complete loss for words after seeing this and shared it on Twitter. J.J. is the oldest of the Watt brothers.
The 2017 Walter Payton Man of the Year recipient explained why he made the decision to call it a career after 12 NFL seasons. He noted that both timing and mental stress played a factor in his decision.
J.J. Watt said:
"I've known for a little while. It's the right time. It feels like the right time. I've put so much into the game and the wins and the losses, the mental stress and passion that comes with it, it just weighs on you. It's heavy, I mean it's really heavy."
Watt added:
"The losses are very tough to take. You live with the highs and the lows, and I've always said that I'd way rather live with the highs and the lows than never know in the middle. I've got a son now. Obviously, I had a heart scare in the middle of the year, so there's certainly some of that that played into it. But I'm very happy and am very at peace with it."
Looking back at Watt's career, his next steps might be to Canton, Ohio and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Is J.J. Watt a Pro Football Hall of Famer?
J.J. Watt spent the first decade of his illustrious NFL career with the Houston Texans. He won the first of his three AP Defensive Player of the Year awards in his second season in the league.
The former Wisconsin Badgers star also led the NFL in sacks twice while with the Texans. Overall, he had five seasons with double-digit sacks with Houston.
In fact, Watt is the only player in Texans history with over 100 career sacks with the franchise. With the Cardinals this season, he's leading the team with 10.5 sacks, his sixth such season with at least 10 or more sacks. Right now, he stands at 112.5 sacks and counting in his career. Let's see how J.J. Watt fares in his final NFL game, the 151st of his career, in Week 18.
If you use any of the above quotes, please credit NFL.com and H/T Sportskeeda.
