J.J. Watt leaving NFL with gold jacket in future

Since being drafted by the Houston Texans 11th overall in 2011, Watt has climbed up the ranks to become one of the premier defenders of his generation.

Watt's accomplishments speak for themselves. He has 111.5 sacks with two games remaining in his career, which is good for 26th on the NFL's official all-time list that's been kept since 1982. 

The face of the Texans for a decade, Watt won three NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors, made five Pro Bowls and NFL All-Pro lists, led the NFL in sacks twice, and earned the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award in 2017. 

Along with fellow 2011 draftee Von Miller (second overall), Watt was a unanimous selection to the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 2010s.

Watt will retire as the best player in Texans history, sure to be honored when his career officially over later this month. With what he meant to the Texans, it wouldn't be a shock if the team put a statue of him outside of NRG Stadium one day.

Watt's Pro Football Hall of Fame résumé is also cemented. With his playing days now coming to a close, he can now spend the next few years preparing his eventual induction speech, and a first-ballot selection seems likely.

Of course, the Watt legacy will continue on, with J.J.'s brothers T.J. and Derek playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

T.J. Watt, of course, is forging his own Hall of Fame career with the Steelers. 

While his older brother still has the edge on an overall career, the younger defender won Defensive Player of the Year in 2021, has made five Pro Bowls and has three All-Pro selections in six seasons.  

It wouldn't be a surprise if two Watts ended up in Canton, though T.J. has plenty of ground to make up to match his older brother's gold jacket career.