On Wednesday, former All-Pro defensive lineman and Pewaukee, Wisconsin product J.J. Watt told Pat McAfee and former Green Bay Packer A.J. Hawk that he would have done almost anything to be a Packer back in 2021. As Watt tells the story, he was willing to take a $5 million deal with Green Bay to sign there after his 10-year stint with the Houston Texans, but the team was “not interested.”
Instead of signing with the Packers, who Watt says didn’t even make an offer after learning about his interest,
Watt signed a two-year, $31 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals at the age of 32. Watt played seven games for the Cardinals in 2021, recording just one sack on the season, in part because of a shoulder injury that required surgery before his playoff return. In 2022, his final year in the league, Watt made 16 starts and recorded 12.5 sacks.
For perspective, these were the Packers’ 3-4 defensive linemen in 2021, who got on the field in their first year under defensive coordinator Joe Barry: Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, Kingsley Keke, Tyler Lancaster, T.J. Slaton, Abdullah Anderson and Jack Heflin.
You can watch the full clip linked below:
