December 12, 2022; Glendale, Ariz; USA; Cardinals defensive end JJ Watt (99) reacts after a loss to the Patriots at State Farm Stadium. Nfl Cardinals Patriots 1213 New England Patriots At Arizona Cardinals Syndication: Arizona Republic
GLENDALE – It’s a tough pill to swallow to be the backup plan, but it seems like the norm for the Arizona Cardinals. Five-time All-Pro JJ Watt appeared on the Pat McAfee show on Wednesday to discuss various topics in the NFL season. However, Watt revealed when he was a free agent in the 2021 offseason, Arizona wasn’t his first choice. The 36-year-old had his eyes set on a historic NFC franchise, which he would taken significantly less money than with the Cardinals.
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December 12, 2022; Glendale, Ariz; USA; Cardinals defensive lineman JJ Watt (99) comes onto the field prior to a game against the Patriots at State Farm Stadium.
JJ Watt reveals first option on Pat McAfee Show:
“I wanted to play for the Green Bay Packers when I was a free agent and they were not interested..
This was right before I signed with the Arizona Cardinals..
$5M would have gotten it done but they didn’t make me an offer” ~ @JJWatt #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/o6mSnWmmB5
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 17, 2025
The Green Bay Packers were the runaway favorite for the future Hall of Famer. No surprise seeing how Watt is from Pewaukee, Wisconsin and wanted to play for his hometown team. Despite his interest, Green Bay didn’t want to even offer Watt a contract, with him willingly to take a massive discount for the franchise. The Packers passed, leading Watt to look at his other offers, including Arizona’s two-year, $28 million deal.
June 15, 2022; Tempe, Arizona; USA; Cardinals defensive lineman JJ Watt (99) wipes his head during camp at the Tempe Training facility.
Nfl Cardinals Mandatory Camp At Arizona Cardinals
The contract seemed like an overpay, after his first season only saw Watt play seven games and record one sack. The 2022 season, his farewell year, was a much better sendoff for Watt, recording 12.5 sacks and appearing in every single game. Ironically, the Cardinals went 11-6 in Watt’s bad year and 4-13 in his retirement year.
It’s hard to have regrets with a Hall of Fame career like Watt, but one must wonder what he would fare with a prestige organization like Green Bay.
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
