JJ Watt's friendly wager to join the Bengals this year is becoming more likely to happen, and he's leaning into it
Burnley FC minority owner and future NFL Hall of Fame defensive lineman JJ Watt may have to start looking for a place to live in Cincinnati this year. Watt made a friendly wager with Burnley's goalkeeper, James Trafford, agreeing to come out of retirement to join the Cincinnati Bengals if Trafford doesn't concede a goal […]
Burnley FC minority owner and future NFL Hall of Fame defensive lineman JJ Watt may have to start looking for a place to live in Cincinnati this year.
Watt made a friendly wager with Burnley's goalkeeper, James Trafford, agreeing to come out of retirement to join the Cincinnati Bengals if Trafford doesn't concede a goal for the remainder of the season.
Since the wager was made on December 28, Trafford has been in goal for nine matches and has put together nine clean sheets. The most recent happened Wednesday in a 2-0 victory over Hull City.
Watt took to X (formerly known as Twitter) and admitted he does have a taste for Cincinnati delicacies such as Graeter's ice cream and Montgomery Inn BBQ.
Burnley's next match is this Saturday in the Championship English Football League, and 14 matches will follow for the remainder of the club's 2024-25 campaign including its final FA cup match against Preston North End FC.
It's still an absolute long shot for Trafford to keep up his impressive streak, but it's already mightily impressive for it to last nine-straight starts. Burnley did concede a goal on January 11 against Reading FC, but it was Václav Hladký, not Trafford, in goal that day. Trafford hasn't allowed a goal since December 21 against Watford.
He'd have to keep that consistency up until May 3 when the season ends, which will be right around when OTAs pick back up for the Bengals. Perfect timing for Watt to stretch his legs since retiring following the 2022 season.
Watt has to enjoy his keeper embodying a brick wall this year, but you do wonder if he's actually considering what it'd be like to exit retirement and join the Bengals.
No matter the case, what a productive PR stunt this is turning out to be. Burnley is rolling with just two defeats on the year, and Bengals fans have a reason to tune in to English football.
