J.J. Watt last played for the Houston Texans in 2020, spending the final two years of his 12-year NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals. Watt remains one of the franchise’s greatest icons, and he offered strong thoughts on Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans.
Ryans and Watt were teammates on the Texans in 2011, the latter’s rookie season and the former’s final campaign with the franchise as a player.
Ryans is entering Year 3 as the Texans’ head coach, and Watt likes what he has seen.
“I would say that there has been nothing that could have changed the trajectory of the organization more than [Ryans’ arrival]. Now, obviously, you also have to add the drafting of C.J. [Stroud], and Will [Anderson], and the moves that they’ve made,” Watt told reporters at Texans mandatory minicamp on June 11.
“None of it happens without DeMeco at the helm. The personality he has, the culture he’s built, the knowledge that he has, it’s been incredible to watch, and I think that you see players wanting to come here to play for DeMeco Ryans because of who he is and what he’s built.”
The Texans’ defense ranked sixth overall and 14th in scoring in 2024. They were fourth in sacks.
DeMeco Ryans Put Texans Players on Notice
GettyHouston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans gives instructions against the Tennessee Titans.
Ryans’ “swarm mentality,” which he spoke of as the defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers, has permeated throughout the Texans.
“It’s our main thing that we go into every week, is talking about attacking the football, taking the football. Because we know when you take the football away, it just raises your percentages of winning the football game. So, every week, our goal is to win the game. So, we want to win the game, and we take the ball away. It’s the defense helping the team win the game. So, our guys have done a great job of owning that,” Ryans told Texans beat reporters in January. “We emphasize it in practice, and it shows up on game day.
“You really can’t go out there if you’re not about it, and that’s what’s unique about our defense. It’s not one guy. If you want to you want to talk about one guy, you can talk about Will as the guy who leads it. You talk about Azeez [Al-Shaair] as the one guy, you can talk about [Derek] Stingley, you can – I can name all those guys.”
“If you’re not about the swarm mentality, then it’s going to be hard for you to play defense for me, because I see it one way,” Ryans said.
J.J. Watt Gets Honest About Return
GettyFormer NFL player J.J. Watt reacts before Super Bowl LVIII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Watt, who will call games for CBS Sports in 2025, drew attention while speaking with Texans’ defensive line coach Rod Wright. Wright asked if the five-time All-Pro and Pro Bowler, and three-time Defensive Player of the Year, wanted to return.
Perhaps tongue-in-cheek, Wright told Watt, “It’s still on the table,” per KPRC 2’s Ari Alexander on June 11.
Watt, admitting he sometimes believes he can still play, said he is embracing his next phase.
“I don’t know if it’ll ever be settled, honestly. I’ll always think I can do it, which is a problem. Andre [Johnson] and I have talked about that a few times. No matter how long you go, you’re like, ‘I got a couple in me,’” Watt said. “There’s always that 1% in the back of your head. I, definitely, no longer have that anymore. I’m just comfortable. I’m at peace. We’re having a new our second baby soon, and life is very good. I’m very fortunate.”
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