Back in 2021, J.J. Watt wanted to come home.
The former All-Pro defensive end, a proud product of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, revealed this week on The Pat McAfee Show that he was ready to do whatever it took to wear the green and gold - even if it meant taking a serious pay cut. After a decade of dominance with the Houston Texans, Watt says he was willing to sign with the Packers for just $5 million.
The catch? Green Bay never picked up the phone.
“I wanted it. I wanted it bad,” Watt told McAfee and former Packer A.J.
Hawk. “But they weren’t interested.”
Instead, Watt landed in Arizona, signing a two-year, $31 million deal with the Cardinals at age 32. It was a move that surprised some at the time, especially given Watt’s deep Wisconsin roots and the fact that the Packers were a legitimate contender in 2021. But as Watt tells it, the decision wasn’t his to make - at least not when Green Bay didn’t even extend an offer.
Now, with the benefit of hindsight, it’s hard not to wonder what might’ve been.
In his first season with the Cardinals, Watt was limited to just seven games due to a shoulder injury that eventually required surgery. He returned in time for the playoffs but managed just one sack in the regular season.
Still, even in a shortened campaign, Watt’s presence was felt. His leadership, intensity, and football IQ remained elite, even if the stat sheet didn’t fully show it.
Then came 2022 - Watt’s final year in the NFL - and he reminded everyone exactly who he was. Starting all 16 games, he racked up 12.5 sacks, showing flashes of the disruptive force that once won him three Defensive Player of the Year awards. It was a fitting final act for one of the most respected players of his generation.
Meanwhile, over in Green Bay, the 2021 defensive line was a mix of steady veterans and developing talent. Kenny Clark was the anchor, and Dean Lowry brought experience, but the rest of the rotation - Kingsley Keke, Tyler Lancaster, T.J.
Slaton, Abdullah Anderson, and Jack Heflin - lacked the kind of proven, game-changing presence Watt could’ve provided. It was the first year under defensive coordinator Joe Barry, and while the unit had its moments, adding a player like Watt might’ve elevated the group to another level.
Of course, hindsight is always 20/20. The Packers had their reasons - cap space, scheme fit, long-term planning - for not pursuing Watt.
But hearing it straight from the man himself, it’s clear that this wasn’t just a nostalgic dream. Watt was ready to come home and chase a ring with the team he grew up watching.
It’s one of those “what ifs” that will always linger a bit in Packers lore. What if J.J.
Watt had finished his career in Wisconsin? What if that defense had one more elite pass rusher in the mix?
What if the Packers had said yes?
We’ll never know. But we do know this: Watt had one last run in him. And Green Bay had the chance to be part of it.