John McClain, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, is in his 48th year of covering the NFL in Houston, including 45 seasons at the Houston Chronicle.
On Saturday, J.J. Watt went to Canton, Ohio for the first time. It won't be his last trip to the birthplace of the NFL.
Watt went to Canton to watch his former teammate, Andre Johnson, become the first Texans' player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
"I was so excited to be there and celebrate Andre," Watt said this week after returning to his home in Phoenix. "He's such a quiet, humble guy. I was so excited that he was being showered with admiration, love and appreciation by so many coaches, teammates, family members and friends. It was very cool to know how special that was for him. I was so happy to be there for him."
Watt sat in the audience, close to the stage, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. There were thousands of Texans' fans who made the trip to Canton to celebrate Johnson's induction.
"That's just unbelievable when you think Andre is one of like 380 people in the Pro Football Hall of Fame," Watt said. "It's an incredible group to be in. That's something I took away from Canton – that you sometimes don't realize just how special that group is."
In 2028, Watt is a lock to join a new team – his third – since leaving Wisconsin for Houston in 2011. Watt, a three-time winner of the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award, will be in his first year of eligibility. He shouldn't have to wait like Johnson, who was elected in his third year as a modern era finalist.
It's interesting that just about every current or former player who's a legitimate candidate to make the Hall of Fame does just about anything possible to avoid talking about it. They think they're going to jinx themselves, or they don't want to come off cocky, say the wrong thing and have it get picked up immediately and spread like wildfire on social media.
Just about everyone Watt ran into at Canton asked him about being voted into the Hall of Fame in four years. Whether it's friends, former teammates and coaches, fans or people like Texans' Chair & CEO Cal McNair and Vice President of the Houston Texans Foundation Hannah McNair – they're all convinced the selection committee is going to elect Watt in 2028, making him the second Texan to be enshrined in Canton. He followed Johnson into the Texans' Ring of Honor at NRG Stadium. He'll also follow Johnson into the Hall of Fame.
Making the Hall of Fame is a natural question to ask a former player of Watt's and one of the most dominant defensive players in league history, who retired after recording 12 sacks in 2021, his second season with the Cardinals after 10 with the Texans.
"Everybody was so kind, saying, 'You're next,'" Watt said. "I was telling the McNairs, it's like, 'I don't know how to respond to that. I don't know what to say when somebody says that to me.' Obviously, I'm hopeful, and I think it would be an incredible experience and such a great honor. But you never want to be presumptuous. I really haven't thought that far ahead."
Uh, yeah, right.
Watt might not be making his reservations for Canton, but he can at least start thinking about his guest list.
After returning home from Canton, his wife, Kealia, asked him about his experience, including the reception and party thrown by the McNairs after Saturday's induction speeches.
"I told her it was very similar to a wedding, where everybody in your life who's important to you is in one room, and that's so rare in today's world," he said. "They say there are only two times all these people in your life are going to be in the same place – at your wedding and when you die.
"Standing in that room and seeing Andre up on the stage, talking to all of his family, friends, teammates and coaches, I thought it was really special because he gets an additional one of those where everyone is there, and it's not your wedding or your funeral."
Watt's brushes with greatness started long before his NFL career, and it happened to be with a player who was destined to become a member of the Class of 2024 – Chicago's Devin Hester, the greatest return specialist in history who played at the University of Miami, the same program that produced Johnson.
Nothing but love and respect for one of the best to ever do it in H-Town 🤘 We can't wait to celebrate your legacy soon.
Former Houston Texans DL J.J. Watt announced that he will be retiring after the 2022 NFL season.
An image from the Jan. 5, 2019 Wildcard game against the Indianapolis Colts. The Texans lost 7-21.
An image from the Jan. 4, 2020 Wildcard Playoff Game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 22-19.
An image from the Sept. 22, 2019 regular season away game against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Texans won 27-20.
An image from the Sept. 20, 2020 regular season home game against the Baltimore Ravens. The Texans lost 16-33.
An image from the Sept. 9, 2019 regular season away game against the New Orleans Saints. The Texans lost 28-30.
An image from the Jan. 4, 2020 Wildcard Playoff Game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 22-19.
An image from the Jan. 4, 2020 Wildcard Playoff Game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 22-19.
An image from the Jan. 4, 2020 Wildcard Playoff Game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 22-19.
An image from the Sept. 20, 2020 regular season home game against the Baltimore Ravens. The Texans lost 16-33.
An image from the Sept. 9, 2018 regular season away game against the New England Patriots. The Texans lost 20-27.
An image from the Sept. 9, 2018 regular season away game against the New England Patriots. The Texans lost 20-27.
An image from the Jan. 4, 2020 Wildcard Playoff Game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 22-19.
An image from the Nov. 8, 2020 regular season away game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Texans won 27-25.
An image from the July 25, 2019 Texans training camp practice at the Houston Methodist Training Center.
An image from the Aug. 5, 2018 Texans training camp practice at the Greenbrier in West Virginia.
An image from the Aug. 5, 2018 Texans training camp practice at the Greenbrier in West Virginia.
An image from the Aug. 29, 2019 preseason home game against the Los Angeles Rams. The Texans lost 10-22.
An image from the Sept. 28, 2014 regular season home game against the Buffalo Bills. The Texans won 23-17.
A Nov. 23, 2018 image of a community development event in which military families visited a Texans practice.
An image from the Nov. 26, 2018 home game against the Tennessee Titans. The Texans won 34-17.
An image from the Nov. 26, 2018 home game against the Tennessee Titans. The Texans won 34-17.
An image from the Jan. 4, 2020 Wildcard Playoff Game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 22-19.
An image from the Jan. 4, 2020 Wildcard Playoff Game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 22-19.
An image from the Jan. 4, 2020 Wildcard Playoff Game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 22-19.
An image from the Jan. 4, 2020 Wildcard Playoff Game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 22-19.
An image from the August 3, 2019 Texans training camp practice.
An image from the Sept. 22, 2019 regular season away game against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Texans won 27-20.
An image from the Jan. 4, 2020 Wildcard Playoff Game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 22-19.
An image from the Jan. 4, 2020 Wildcard Playoff Game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 22-19.
An image from the Jan. 4, 2020 Wildcard Playoff Game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 22-19.
An image from the Jan. 4, 2020 Wildcard Playoff Game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 22-19.
An image from the Jan. 4, 2020 Wildcard Playoff Game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 22-19.
An image from the Jan. 4, 2020 Wildcard Playoff Game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 22-19.
An image from the Jan. 4, 2020 Wildcard Playoff Game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 22-19.
An image from the Jan. 4, 2020 Wildcard Playoff Game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 22-19.
An image from the Jan. 4, 2020 Wildcard Playoff Game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 22-19.
An image from the Jan. 4, 2020 Wildcard Playoff Game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 22-19.
An image from the Jan. 4, 2020 Wildcard Playoff Game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 22-19.
An image from the Jan. 4, 2020 Wildcard Playoff Game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 22-19.
An image from the Jan. 4, 2020 Wildcard Playoff Game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 22-19.
An image from the Jan. 4, 2020 Wildcard Playoff Game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 22-19.
An image from the Jan. 4, 2020 Wildcard Playoff Game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 22-19.
An image from the Jan. 4, 2020 Wildcard Playoff Game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 22-19.
An image from the Jan. 4, 2020 Wildcard Playoff Game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 22-19.
An image from the Jan. 4, 2020 Wildcard Playoff Game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 22-19.
An image of the Dec. 2, 2018 regular season home game against the Cleveland Browns. The Texans won 29-13.
An image from the Jan. 4, 2020 Wildcard Playoff Game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 22-19.
An image from the Dec. 23, 2018 regular season away game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Texans lost 30-32.
An image from the Jan. 4, 2020 Wildcard Playoff Game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 22-19.
An image from the Jan. 4, 2020 Wildcard Playoff Game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 22-19.
An image from the Oct. 14, 2018 regular season home game against the Buffalo Bills. The Texans won 20-13.
An image from the Oct. 14, 2018 regular season home game against the Buffalo Bills. The Texans won 20-13.
An image from the Sept. 30, 2018 regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts. The Texans won 37-34 in overtime.
An image from the Sept. 23, 2018 regular season home game against the New York Giants. The Texans lost 22-27.An image from the Sept. 23, 2018 regular season home game against the New York Giants. The Texans lost 22-27.
An image from the Sept. 23, 2018 regular season home game against the New York Giants. The Texans lost 22-27.An image from the Sept. 23, 2018 regular season home game against the New York Giants. The Texans lost 22-27.
An image from the Dec. 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Texans won 20-3.
An image from the Sept. 30, 2018 regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts. The Texans won 37-34 in overtime.
fAn image from the Sept. 23, 2018 regular season home game against the New York Giants. The Texans lost 22-27.
fAn image from the Sept. 23, 2018 regular season home game against the New York Giants. The Texans lost 22-27.
An image from the Sept. 16, 2018 regular season away game against the Tennessee Titans. The Texans lost 17-20.
fAn image from the Sept. 23, 2018 regular season home game against the New York Giants. The Texans lost 22-27.
An image from the Sept. 23, 2018 regular season home game against the New York Giants. The Texans lost 22-27.
"When I was in high school, I was a massive Hurricanes' fan, and eventually becoming teammates with Andre was very special for me," he said. "My family was traveling, and we were in the Atlanta airport when I saw Devin wearing his Miami letterman's jacket. I was 15 or 16, and I have a photo of us. (On Saturday) I got a photo with Devin at the Hall of Fame. I'm trying to see if my mom can dig up the old one so I can put them side by side."
Johnson, Hester, Julius Peppers, Dwight Freeney, Patrick Willis, Randy Gradishar and Steve McMichael, who was represented by his wife, Misty, because he's suffering from ALS, gave emotional and passionate acceptance speeches that made a profound impact on Watt.
"That's another thing that stood out to me – watching the speeches and seeing those guys interact was all the other members of the Hall of Fame," he said. "They talked to the new members about joining a new team with a new family and a new brotherhood. You can tell how much that means to not only the guys being inducted this year but also to all the guys on stage who came back to Canton. They treat each other like family. It was cool to see the respect and admiration between so many greats.
"It was great to listen to their stories and hear them speak because those are guys I have so much respect for."
And they have so much respect for each other.
You can't put a number on respect. There's no dollar sign. But in four years, Watt is going to find out that he earned so much respect on and off the field during his 12-year career that he's going to be voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the first ballot.
"If I'm fortunate enough to get in, that would be absolutely incredible," Watt said. "I'm so happy for Andre, the first Texan to make the Hall of Fame. I would be incredibly honored to join him in that brotherhood."
Four more years!
