A potential comeback by JJ Watt with the Cincinnati Bengals could make for an incredible and improbable story this offseason, especially considering how it could unfold. Several weeks ago, Watt, who also co-owns Burnley in the English soccer’s second tier, made a bet with his goalkeeper, James Trafford. Watt promised to come out of retirement to play for the Bengals if Trafford didn’t allow a goal for the rest of the season. Since then, Trafford and Burnley have impressively recorded 12 consecutive clean sheets.
This is starting to become a bit of a concern… pic.twitter.com/MrOdjRz2En
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) January 18, 2025
Watt has highlighted not just Trafford’s remarkable streak, which marks the second longest clean sheet streak in the history of English soccer, but also the realistic possibility that he may indeed have to return from retirement to join the Bengals.
Didn’t think we’d make it this far… pic.twitter.com/vvzXbbolfK
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) February 22, 2025
During an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show, Watt confirmed his commitment to uphold his end of the bet if James Trafford and Burnley keep this streak alive. He humorously mentioned his ongoing conversations with Trafford, expressing incredulity at the situation, but also excitement over the potential for his return to the NFL. The connection between Burnley and the Bengals is creating buzz, and Watt’s unexpected dilemma is captivating fans.
.@JJWatt says he’ll absolutely follow through with his bet to come out of retirement and play for the #Bengals if James Trafford doesn’t allow another goal for the rest of the season.
The only question? Would the Bengals even want him? 👀
Care to comment, @Bengals? pic.twitter.com/pyScfyb98u— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) February 25, 2025
“I messaged him and I said, ‘you’re really taking this serious, huh?’ And he was like, ‘I really want you to play for the Bengals.’ Two games later, with no goals allowed, I messaged him again, saying, ‘it’s getting a little ridiculous now, do you think you can make it the whole way?’ He replied, ‘how do you think you eat a whale? One bite at a time,’” Watt shared. He acknowledged that “it’s getting pretty serious,” as they’ve sparked a newfound interest among Cincinnati fans for Burnley, resulting in increased viewership and engagement from the Ohio region. Watt stated, “I’ll do it. If he does that, which is insane, there’s 12 or 13 games left. If he achieves this incredible feat, I will absolutely follow through and join the Bengals. Who knows if they even want me? But I’m in shape, and I can go play.”
The curious connection between Trafford and his Burnley teammates becoming fans of the Bengals is a mystery that Watt looks forward to unraveling. Nonetheless, the synergy between Burnley, Watt, and the Bengals is proving fruitful, especially as Burnley currently sits third in the EFL Championship standings, just two points shy of automatic promotion back to the Premier League.
When Dan Patrick inquired about any contractual obligations that could affect Watt’s return to the Bengals, he revealed that he had never filed any retirement paperwork with the NFL. Thus, the primary challenge (excluding Burnley achieving the improbable) might be whether the Cincinnati Bengals would be interested in signing him, a prospect that could pose significant hurdles given their history with contract negotiations for star players, as highlighted by this unique situation.
