Former NFL defensive end J.J. Watt has recalled a health scare from last year that formed part of his decision to retire.
Watt, who experienced atrial fibrillation last October, needed his heart to be shocked back into rhythm in what must have been a scary procedure. However, he played for the Arizona Cardinals just three days later.
The pass rusher announced he would retire at the end of the 2022/23 season two months later.
Watt discussed the scare on the Pardon My Take podcast recently, revealing he was passed from team doctors to a cardiologist before being diagnosed with A-Fib.
The 33-year-old insists he’s at peace with the decision.
“I’ve got a son now. Obviously, I had a heart scare in the middle of the year, so there’s certainly some of that that played into it,” he explained. “But I’m very happy and am very at peace with it.”
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According to his wife, Kealia Ohai, the biggest factor playing into his decision to call it quits was Watt’s desire to be with his newborn son Koa.
“I think that there were obviously many things that went into his decision,” the pro soccer player told PEOPLE in a recent interview. “I know he wanted to be with Koa. The way it worked out, it was just the perfect time and it couldn’t have been better for us and Koa.”
Kealia also noted that her husband’s body lined up with everything, so the timing was perfect, in that sense.
“It just all kind of lined up right as it should have,” she said.
