'Thank you JJ Watt:' Texans fans show appreciation for franchise legend
Sometimes when a franchise player leaves a city, feelings can be hurt.
But that doesn’t seem to be the case for Houston Texans fans, who said goodbye to JJ Watt — one of the best players in franchise history — on Friday.
The Texans are releasing Watt after 10 years with the team as he hopes to pursue a Super Bowl in the latter part of his career. He won three Defensive Player of the Year awards with the Texans, but the franchise struggled to make deep postseason runs.
He’s amassed 101 sacks, 172 tackles for loss and 25 forced fumbles over the course of his career. He’s likely to be a first ballot Hall of Famer when he does eventually retire.
With the Texans entering a transition period — including a potential trade of QB Deshaun Watson — it made sense for the sides to part ways.
Still, it’s an emotional time for Texans fans. Watt was also a major driver of relief for the city of Houston after Hurricane Harvey devastated that community in 2017.
Here’s some of the reaction from Texans fans after the move was announced:
You were & are the ❤️of the @HoustonTexans and such a generous and caring man @JJWatt Simply saying Thank You doesn’t seem anywhere close to being enough. But THANK YOU❤️🏈💙 https://t.co/nRnzMgCuPu
— j.swā (@joaniegirl17) February 12, 2021
Thank you @JJWatt
You put on for this city like you were born here!!!! You will be missed. Thank you for all that you did for the Houston community. https://t.co/pecyhsdfTG
— Andy Granger (@AndyGranger88) February 12, 2021
You will be missed terribly. You have given so much to the city of Houston and to the Texans. You make people and everything around you better because of your strength of character, your remarkable work ethic, and a heart as big as Texas. Thank you JJ Watt!! I wish you could stay
— Kerrin Gaenzle (@kerrin925) February 12, 2021
Thank you @JJWatt for your amazing effort the last 10 years. Houston is worse off without you on our lineup
— Gamma (@ayegamma) February 12, 2021
Thank You @JJWatt for everything. Go get that ring #99 pic.twitter.com/UU5NZfUMF2
— James Cong Li, MD (@JCLMD8) February 12, 2021
Thank you, @JJWatt for all that you have done for Houston. We are grateful for you and wish you nothing but the best!
— Andy Jirrels (@andyjirrels) February 12, 2021
JJ Watt has been the perfect player and professional ever since he was drafted. Not only how dominant he is as a football player but raising money for Hurricane Harvey relief and being so involved with the Houston community in so many ways. Thank you @JJWatt. You’re truly a hero. https://t.co/6Hq2NgigWD
— Sam Kasser (@kasser_sam) February 12, 2021
@JJWatt I just wanted to say Thank you for your time at the Texans! I will never forget what you did for the franchise. #99Forever
— Trevor Wright (@TrevorLeeGaming) February 12, 2021
Thank you for all the great memories @JJWatt!!! You will forever be the greatest Texan of all time. 🐐 😢 https://t.co/vjfeyxb6NV
— Camran Cantu (@camcantu_92) February 12, 2021