MADISON, Wis. — On a late autumn evening in 2010, J.J. Watt navigated the crowded Camp Randall turf with a rose wedged between his teeth. The Badgers had just clinched the Big Ten title, and a trip to Pasadena, with a thorough beatdown of the Northwestern Wildcats.

In what would be his final game in a Wisconsin uniform, Watt made one disruptive, game-changing play after another, stifling the Wildcats' offense and creating opportunities for the Badgers.

On Northwestern's second play of the game, he pressured quarterback Evan Watkins into throwing an interception. Later, Watt ended a pair of Wildcat possessions by forcing a fumble and creating another hurried INT, both of which set the Badgers up deep in enemy territory and led to UW touchdowns.

With the Badgers leading, 35-10, late in the second quarter, Watkins broke free on a 20-yard run. A hustling Watt chased him down from behind, made the tackle and forced a fumble that the Badgers scooped up. Four plays later the score was 42-10.

In the third quarter, with Wisconsin now leading 63-17, Northwestern scored what looked to be a meaningless touchdown. Watt blocked the ensuing extra point.

Minutes later, Watt found his way to the quarterback again, impacting a throw to spark an Aaron Henry 50-yard interception return for a touchdown. With the third quarter winding down and the score 70-23, Camp Randall erupted into a memorable rendition of "Jump Around".

For the game, Watt finished with a team-high seven tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, three quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and a blocked extra point. He impacted four of the Wildcats' seven turnovers.

With plenty of Camp Randall's 80,011 fans on the turf, Watt made his way off of the field after the Badgers' Big Ten title celebration.

"I'll never forget the last time I played at Camp Randall," he said. "The surreal moment of hearing the stadium chant my name, my family's name, as I left the field… that was something special."

A first-team All-American and the 2010 Lott Impact Trophy winner, Watt will be hearing his name called again this September, as he is officially enshrined into the UW Athletic Hall of Fame.

 

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High Five

One: As a kid growing up in Pewaukee, Wis., 70 miles from Camp Randall Stadium, a young J.J. Watt made the trip to Madison with his family for something a little different than football on the gridiron.

"Growing up, I would go and skate with the Badgers," said Watt. "We'd meet the (hockey players) and get their autographs."

Watt's journey to wearing the Motion W himself wasn't the traditional path of a high school standout. Watt, who wasn't a highly-touted recruit coming out of Pewaukee, started his college football career at Central Michigan as a tight end. After one season in Mount Pleasant, Mich., Watt decided to return home and walk-on for the Badgers as a defensive end.

It didn't take long for Watt to go from the Badgers' defensive scout team player of the year in 2008 to a scholarship player who earned All-Big Ten and All-America honors in 2010.

"I think that there's something to be said for letting people grow and develop, teaching people, coaching people, making them a better version of themselves," said Watt. "I think Wisconsin certainly did that for me."

 

Two: After J.J. wrapped up his monumental collegiate career, his brothers, Derek and T.J., laid their own legacies as Badgers. Derek, a UW fullback from 2011 to 2015, helped pave the way for Melvin Gordon's historic offensive dominance. T.J., who was a Badger from 2013 to 2016, earned first-team All-Big Ten honors and second-team All-America accolades as a gamechanger on the edge of the Badgers' defensive front.

Today, the Watt name is synonymous with Wisconsin football.

"Wisconsin is such an incredible brand in its own right, it's so well established," said J.J. "To come in and utilize everything that had already been built, and to take that and enhance it in any way we can with what we've been able to build in the NFL, is something that we're extremely proud of."

With everything the trio has accomplished in the NFL, Watt understands the significance of representing both the state of Wisconsin and the Badgers.

"Every time we do anything, we know that we're representing Wisconsin," said Watt. "We're extremely proud of where we're from."

Three: Even before his meteoric rise as an NFL star, Watt established giving back as an important part of his personal mission. As a Badger in 2010, Watt started the Justin J. Watt Foundation as a way to make an impact in the community.

"My parents always taught me that we had food on the table and we were lucky," said Watt. "Not everyone is as fortunate. So, they instilled in me that whenever you have the chance to give back and try to help take care of others, you should."

The reach of Watt's foundation has impacted millions across the country during his career. From donating gear to youth programs near his hometown, to contributing to Hurricane Harvey recovery in Houston, Watt has made an impact in every step of his journey.

In 2017, Watt earned what is considered the NFL's most prestigious honor, the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.

Four: After wrapping up a legendary career at the highest level of his sport, Watt has shifted his focus to life after football.

"This year especially, it's just trying to spend time with my wife and son and enjoy being retired," said Watt. "I'll dabble in some things here and there, and just to try to kind of see what sticks."

Watt recently announced that he and his wife Kealia, who has played soccer professionally in the NWSL, have become minority owners in English soccer club Burnley. Watt has been active in promoting the club and will continue to be visible as the squad begins its 2023-24 season in the Premier League this fall.

After being incredibly engaged in his craft and career for so long, Watt recognizes the importance of taking a breather before jumping into his next big endeavor.

"There are going to be a couple of other things in the works, so we'll see," said Watt. "But, the number one thing and the main thing hands down right now, is spending time with my family."

Five: After announcing on Dec. 27 that he was headed into retirement after the conclusion of the 2022 NFL season, Watt had two games remaining in a Cardinals uniform to leave everything he had left on the field.

He suited up on a January afternoon in Santa Clara, Calif. for the final time. Mic'd up by the Cardinals' media crew, Watt delivered a few pregame words to his teammates.

"There's millions of people that would kill to be in the position we're in. We're living out our childhood dream," Watt said. "Do not let this opportunity pass you by. Do not take this opportunity for granted."

After playing nearly 8,000 career snaps as one of his era's most dominant defensive forces, Watt was just that in his 151st career NFL game. Watt took down San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy twice, recording two sacks, three TFLs and a pass deflection in his final game.

As the clock ticked down to the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter, Watt was removed from the game and trotted to the sideline to a chorus of cheers.

4,426 days after heading down the Camp Randall tunnel to chants of his name, Watt's professional football career was punctuated by a standing ovation as he made his way off the field for the final time.