NFL defensive-end JJ Watt has been released by the Houston Texans after spending 10-years with the organisation.
The three-time Defensive Player of the Year had previously requested a trade from the Texans, following a season in which Houston finished with a 4-12 record.
However, Watt announced on Friday via Twitter that he and the team had agreed to mutually part ways sooner, allowing Watt to test free agency.
Watt stated: ‘I have sat down with the McNair family and I have asked them for my release, and we have mutually agreed to part ways at this time.
‘I’m excited and looking forward to a new opportunity, and I’ve been working extremely hard. But at the same time, it is always tough to move on… I appreciate the McNair family for drafting me and giving me my first opportunity in the NFL. Thank you, Houston, I love you.”
JJ Watt was set to make $17.5million (£12.6m) in 2021 – a huge contract which few teams could justify paying to a player like Watt, who has rapidly declined in production over the last couple of seasons, and therefore made the possibility of a trade unlikely.
Watt amounted to just five sacks this season, despite playing all 16 games, as he returned from an injury which caused him to miss half of the 2019-20 campaign.
The cap space saved by the Texans as a result will be significant for the organisation, as they find themselves in need of a long overdue rebuild.
With the departure of Watt, Houston has lost yet another franchise player. Last off-season they traded receiver Deandre Hopkins, regarded as a top-three receiver in the league, to the Arizona Cardinals in a shocking move.
As well as the departure of Watt, the Texans are expected to part ways with quarterback Deshaun Watson, who has drawn much interest from around the league since making his request.
At 31-years-old, Watt has long been a dominant force in the NFL, currently sitting with 101.0 sacks and 431 tackles over his decade long career.
And, as a five-time pro-bowler, five-time first team all-pro, three-time DPOTY, and two-time season sacks leader; Watt is among the most decorated defensive players in league history – and arguably the greatest Houston Texan of all time.
But, with this new opportunity for a fresh start – Watt will no doubt be eager to join a team which are promising contenders to win a ring before long, and further consolidate a future in the hall of fame.
However, Texans CEO Cal McNair has suggested that Watt may find himself back in the Lone Star State before being enshrined in Canton, Ohio.
McNair said: ‘We evaluated our options and were confident this was the right one for JJ and the Texans. We started talking about this right after the season and we wanted to make sure we did right by him.
‘This is not a goodbye, it’s so long for now. We’re looking for JJ to pick a great spot, play a couple of years, and then welcome him back and celebrate him for his remarkable career.’
