Superstar DE, 5x Pro Bowl, 114.5 sacks Reveals He Was Willing to Take a Major Pay Cut to Play for the Packers

Green Bay, Wisconsin – December 17, 2025
When conversations turn to the greatest defensive players in Green Bay Packers history, Reggie White’s name inevitably leads the list. But according to J.J. Watt, there was once a very real chance — even if only briefly — that he could have chased that same legacy in Green Bay.

Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show this week, the former three-time Defensive Player of the Year revealed that the Packers were his top destination when he hit free agency, and that he was prepared to accept a significant hometown discount to make it happen. The call, however, never came.

After spending 10 dominant seasons with the Houston Texans, Watt said he made his wishes clear to his agent when he became a free agent: Green Bay was where he wanted to be. Despite that, the Packers never engaged in serious talks.

“I wanted to play for the Packers in free agency. I wanted to go to Green Bay,” Watt said. “They were not interested. That’s where I wanted to go.”

Watt emphasized that money was never the driving factor. In fact, he said he was willing to take far less than market value just to have the opportunity to consider wearing green and gold.

“I told my agent, ‘I don’t care what the number is. I don’t care how low it is,’” Watt explained. “If it’s $2 million, $4 million — whatever it is — just put it in front of me so I can weigh it against the other options.”

According to Watt, that number never arrived.

“I can tell you without question, $5 million would have gotten it done,” he added. “But they didn’t make an offer.”

The appeal was deeply personal. Watt grew up in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, attended the University of Wisconsin, and watched Reggie White dominate at Lambeau Field as a kid. Playing for the Packers wasn’t about chasing accolades — it was about coming home.

“That’s where I grew up. That’s where I watched Reggie White,” Watt said. “To play for the Packers would have been incredible.”

Instead, Watt signed a two-year, $28 million deal with the Arizona Cardinals in 2021. Even late in his career, he remained productive. In his final NFL season, Watt recorded 12.5 sacks, 39 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble before retiring at age 33.

In hindsight, it’s hard not to wonder what might have been. Watt had already earned more than $100 million during his career, and by his own admission, money was no longer the priority. Age and injury history may have caused hesitation inside the Packers’ front office — a cautious decision that now feels surprising given how affordable the risk could have been.

With Green Bay now placing its defensive future in the hands of Micah Parsons, Watt’s comments serve as a reminder of a rare missed opportunity — one where a hometown star was willing to sacrifice millions just to chase a childhood dream at Lambeau Field.