Texans HC DeMeco Ryans adds fuel to JJ Watt unretirement rumors

Tyler Greenawalt

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Texans HC DeMeco Ryans adds fuel to JJ Watt unretirement rumors image

J.J. Watt isn't returning to the NFL anytime soon, but Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans sounds like a man who'd take his old teammate back in a heartbeat.

When asked by reporters under what circumstances he would call to ask Watt to unretire and play for Houston, Ryans laughingly said, "I need him right now."

"I need to make that call right now," Ryans added. "Anytime J.J. Watt’s ready to go, I’m ready to go.”

Watt previously told reporters he contemplated an NFL return in 2023 and said he told Ryans to call him if he needed a defensive lineman. Watt added Ryans shouldn't call him unless he "absolutely" needed it — implying that it would take a litany of injuries during a playoff push to get Watt to unretire from football.

"I told DeMeco last year, I said, 'Don't call unless you absolutely need it, but if you ever do call, I'll be there.' And he knows not to call unless he absolutely needs it," Watt said, via SportsRadio610. "This is the last year I'll tell him that, because I'm not going to keep training the way I've been training, but he knows that if he ever truly does need it, I'll be there for him. I don't anticipate that happening. They've got a very good group.

"I very much don't want that to ever be the case [that Ryans calls because of injuries]. I hope everybody stays extremely healthy and they dominate and they don't need any other bodies. And I just get to watch and enjoy from the couch."

Watt, 35, enjoyed a tremendous career with the Texans. He retired in 2022 after 12 years — 10 of which were with the Texans where he tallied 114.5 career sacks, 195 tackles for a loss, 317 quarterback hits and 27 forced fumbles in 151 total games. Watt also won Defensive Player of the Year three times and made three Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams.

Texans general manager Nick Caserio added more speculation earlier in a conversation on The Pat McAfee Show. Caserio said that Watt "always has an open door" with the team.

Tyler Greenawalt

Tyler Greenawalt Photo

 

Tyler Greenawalt is a contributing writer for The Sporting News after stops at Yahoo Sports, USA Today Sports and Turner Sports. He’s worked in written, video, social media and augmented reality content since he graduated from Syracuse University in 2014. His favorite teams – the New York Jets, Orlando Magic and Tottenham Hotspur – always find new and exciting ways to disappoint him, and he consistently questions his fandom. You can follow his bad sports takes at @TyGreen14 on X.