Arizona Cardinals star defensive end JJ Watt to retire after this season

Watt, the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, said he played his “last ever” home game this past Sunday, a 19-16 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

“My heart is filled with nothing but love and gratitude,” Watt wrote on Twitter. “It’s been an absolute honor and a pleasure.”

My heart is filled with nothingArizona’s remaining two games of the season are on the road – at the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday and at the San 

Francisco 49ers on January 8. but love and gratitude,” Watt wrote on Twitter. “It’s been an absolute honor and a pleasure.

“The pleasure was all ours,” the Cardinals responded in a tweet.

The 33-year-old was named Defensive Player of the Year three times, tied for most in league history with Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald and New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor.

In March 2021, Watt signed a two-year contract with the Cardinals as a free agent.