“I’ve sat down with the McNair family and I’ve requested them for my launch and we have mutually agreed to part ways at this moment,” Watt said in a movie posted on Twitter. “I came here 10 decades ago as a child from Wisconsin who had never actually been to Texas before. And today I can not envision my life without even Texas inside. How you men have handled me, besides draft night. But each day then, you treated me as family. And I genuinely feel as if you’re my loved ones.
“… I am excited and looking forward to a new chance, and I have been working incredibly hard. But at precisely the exact same time, it’s always hard to proceed. And I only need you guys to know I adore you. I love you. I love the McNair family for me and giving me my first chance in the NFL.”
Watt is coming off his next 16-game year since 2015, since he’s dealt with different season-ending accidents since then.
“Change is not easy, particularly when it entails the ones that you love. J.J.’s effect on not just our company, but the complete Houston community, is similar to any participant in our franchise’s history,” Texans seat and CEO Cal McNair said in a prepared statement. “I advised J.J. before this week that we’ll forever think about him a Texan. We take solace in realizing that this isn’t a goodbye but a’see you ‘ For the time being, we’ll build upon the basis that J.J. made here and forge ahead with our unwavering mission to bring a championship to our town, make memorable experiences for our lovers and also do good things for Houston.”
In 2020, Watt ranked 15th from 119 qualified pass-rushers in pass rush triumph speed, based on ESPN Stats & Information.
Watt is unquestionably the most productive pass-rusher in Texans history, together with 101 career sacks. There were just two players in history with over 30 career sacks (Whitney Mercilus with 54 and Mario Williams with 53) because the franchise’s first period in 2002.
“He is among the finest defensive players ever,” McNair told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. “It is difficult to devote a sentence or two since he’s meant so much into the city and team. His legacy is going to be with us for several years. It is bye for today, but maybe not bye permanently. My children grew up together with him. He has played together on the sidelines. One of my children shares a birthday . Mother is a huge fan of his. He is just meant a lot to all people. That really is doing right by himand this also gives him a while to select his next stop”
“I really don’t think that it’s any secret that I do not have 10 years left in this league,” Watt stated in November. “I believe I really do have a couple more good ones left me. However, you also can not… I am not seeking to rebuild. I am trying to really go after a championship, and that is exactly what I wish to do.”
When asked at the end of the year whether he believed that the 2021 Texans will be in rebuilding mode, Watt explained there are”numerous unknown elements to this scenario right now which you can not definitively state that.”
Soon after Watt’s statement, his brother, linebacker T.J. Watt tweeted that a response.
“Change will occur. It is a part of the NFL. It is inevitable although not always simple. It is bittersweet. That is my word of now for JJ. We’ve got gratitude for JJ. Giving him lots of time to select his next destination is the ideal move.”
While one participant is leaving, another stays locked in a stalemate with the group as Deshaun Watson has asked a transaction despite the Texans reiterating they don’t have any intention of coping the star quarterback.
“I will leave it at that. Now we need on concentrate on JJ. Deshaun is our QB, he’s a Texan, and we expect him to stay a Texan, and we are going to leave it at that.”
Watt’s death comes within an offseason in which the Texans have hired trainer David Culley and general director Nick Caserio to substitute Bill O’Brien, who held both tasks and has been fired following the team started the year 0-4.