The Arizona Cardinals have signed free agent defensive end J.J. Watt, the five-time pro bowler, it was announced via Twitter on Monday.
The three-time defensive player of the year was released by the Houston Texans in February after spending 10 years with the team.
Now, the university of Wisconsin alum will take his talents to the NFC West.
He signed a two-year deal worth $31million (£22.2m) with the Cardinals, including $23m (£16.5m) in guaranteed money.
The search for a new club
During his search for a new team, Watt had made clear that he intended to join a side which could contend for a Super Bowl in the upcoming season.
He was strongly linked with the Cleveland Browns and the Green Bay Packers, among others.
In a turn of events, however, Watt announced via his Twitter account that he was instead heading to Phoenix.
Watts to be reunited with Deandre Hopkins
He will be reunited with wide receiver Deandre Hopkins, who was traded to the Cardinals last season.
The Cardinals finished with an 8-8 record in 2020. Finishing third in their highly competitive division while falling just short of a play-off spot.
Watt recorded five sacks with the Texans this season, bringing him to 101.0 on his career.
In a new city, Watt will now be keen to add a championship alongside his impressive career stats.
Since being drafted 11th overall in the 2011 NFL draft, he has established himself as the franchise’s greatest player of all time.
He became the Texans all time sacks record, while being named both a pro bowler and first team all pro five times over his career.
Comeback
In 2017, while injuries set him back, he made amends. He became a cult hero in the city as he raised more than $37m (£26.5m) for victims of Hurricane Harvey.
But while Watt was adored by fans during his decade long tenure with the club, his departure from the franchise was ugly.
This past season, Watt called out the team’s performance after a loss to Cincinnati in Week 16.
He was later recorded apologising to quarterback Deshaun Watson for the teams disappointing 2020 campaign. Sadly it would turn out to be his final game with the Texans.
While Watt can be expected to be excited at this opportunity to start afresh elsewhere, he will no doubt be missed by football fans in Texas.
New Challenge
As he now moves on to a new franchise, time will tell whether leaving the city which he has come to call home will pay off in the form of silverware.
He will join a defence already consisting of stars such as Budda Baker, Chandler Jones and Haason Reddick. The latter recorded 12.5 sacks this season, finishing fourth in the league.
However, Reddick’s future with Arizona will continue to be questioned as he prepares to hit free agency, with his team now finding another elite pass rusher in Watt.
