![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.skysport22.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Q9GrZtnV-300x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\nJ.J. Watt still swears he would have joined Bengals.<\/p>\n
Yep \u2014 J.J. Watt is still sticking to it<\/p>\n
*What happened:*<\/p>\n
Back in Dec 2024, Watt made a friendly bet with Burnley FC goalkeeper *James Trafford*. Trafford is a huge Bengals fan and asked Watt if he\u2019d come out of retirement to play for Cincinnati.<\/p>\n
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Watt said: _”You don\u2019t allow a goal the rest of the season and it\u2019s a deal”_. d046<\/p>\n
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Watt, now a minority owner of Burnley, said he was serious. He even told Pat McAfee:<\/p>\n
> “I will absolutely honor my end of it… I’ll play for the vet minimum. I’ll go do it because it’s that impressive and I said I would do it” 6616d17e<\/p>\n
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Trafford went on a crazy run with 13-14 straight clean sheets. Watt started house-hunting in Cincinnati and posting about Graeter’s ice cream and Montgomery Inn BBQ. d17e5d0d6616<\/p>\n
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*How it ended:*<\/p>\n
The bet died on March 4, 2025 when Trafford finally gave up a goal to Cardiff City. Watt\u2019s response:<\/p>\n
> “I don\u2019t like Skyline Chili anyway.” ff1e<\/p>\n
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*Now:*<\/p>\n
16 hours ago he was in Cincinnati again visiting TQL Stadium with Burnley and told local media he _still_ swears he wasn\u2019t kidding about signing with Joe Burrow\u2019s Bengals. cc96<\/p>\n
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So he\u2019s retired since 2022 and is now a CBS analyst, but he maintains he would\u2019ve actually suited up for the Bengals for vet minimum if Trafford pulled it off. d17eaff2<\/p>\n
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Wild what a clean sheet streak can do 😅<\/p>\n
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Want me to pull what Bengals fans were saying about it?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"