CNN
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JJ Watt was in a flood of tears after being proven an emotional tribute video of household and NFL stars like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Dak Prescott and Aaron Rodgers forward of his last NFL recreation.
The three-time NFL Defensive Participant of the Yr performed the ultimate recreation of an illustrious profession over the weekend within the Cardinals’ 38-13 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Forward of the sport, as a part of HBO’s “Laborious Knocks” collection, his coach Matt Burke shocked Watt and his teammates with the video.
Manning, Prescott and Rodgers all congratulated Watt on his profession, however Brady had a barely totally different take.
“Man, you had been a ache in my ass for a very long time,” he chuckled earlier than saying, “It was an honor to share the sector with you.”
Watt’s relations had been extra emotional of their tributes. Youthful brother TJ, who’s a outdoors linebacker for the Pitsburgh Steelers mentioned, “I simply wish to say congratulations on retirement.
“You and your resiliency all through all of those ups and downs, you ending up within the NFL and also you being a Defensive Participant of the Yr and also you having all of the success that you simply had confirmed me that it was potential.”
The clip, extensively shared on social media, regularly minimize to Watt who was unable to include his feelings as he watched the messages roll in earlier than it concluded with a spherical of applause from his teammates.
The Cardinals defensive finish introduced his retirement in December after he and his spouse Kealia had given delivery to their first little one, Koa.
Watt had additionally revealed in a social media publish that he underwent remedy for atrial fibrillation – an irregular heartbeat described by many victims as a “quiver,” “flutter” or “flip-flop” of the guts.
An emotional Kealia featured within the video saying, “It has been such an honor to look at you’re employed your ass off these previous years and do no matter you wanted to do to be the most effective.
“You’ve all the time been so beneficiant and type and loving to all people round you, and also you by no means forgot who you’re.”
Watt actually didn’t overlook who he was in his last recreation, ending with two sacks, 5 tackles and a move deflection. It was the end result of one of many strongest defensive careers in current NFL historical past.
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Watt ended his NFL profession with 114.5 sacks, 586 tackles, 27 compelled fumbles and 70 passes defended in 151 video games performed. He owns the Texans franchise document for probably the most profession sacks with 101 and is the one participant in NFL historical past to document two, separate 20-sack seasons.
He was a seven-time All Professional, five-time Professional Bowler and was the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Yr in 2017.
