JJ Watt resisting urge to return to NFL because of ‘the other part’

J.J. Watt still gets the “itch” to play, and knows he has more left in the tank.

The former three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, who retired following the 2022 season with the Cardinals, is not planning a surprise return, however.

Watt, 34, explained to The Post how he navigates those feelings — and what assured him that he made the right decision to retire.

“There’s no doubt that as you see the promotions start rolling in, and knowing the game is coming up, you definitely have that competitive edge where you’re like, ‘I could still do this,’” said Watt, who is being inducted into the Texans’ Ring of Honor on Sunday during the team’s game against the Steelers.

“I definitely could go out there if I wanted to still play well. But then there’s the other part of you — that when I woke up this morning, my body felt great, my knees felt good, my back felt good because nobody’s hitting me every single day.

“So, I always remind myself at any time where I start to get that itch, like, ‘should I?’ — I just remember, ‘Oh yeah. No, I enjoy waking up feeling great.’”

Watt played his final NFL game on January 8, 2023, a 38-13 Arizona loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

It came three months after he and his wife, Kealia Ohai, a former U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team member, welcomed their first son, Koa James Watt, last October.

The couple partnered with Frito-Lay to announce the brands’ $300,000 donation to youth wellness nonprofit GENYOUth, a national youth wellness non-profit that works to combat student food insecurity, which will provide access to 10 million meals through Grab and Go school breakfast and after-school programs. 

Ohai told The Post that she is focused on motherhood and spending time with her family.

“I think that right now I don’t have any plans to play,” the 5-foot-5 forward said. “I love being a mom, and now that JJ is retired, we’ve gotten to do so much as a family and travel so much and start new projects.

“We’ve loved this time and we like having JJ home with us.”

Ohai, who most recently played for the Chicago Red Stars, told Insider in December 2022 that she was cleared to resume training after giving birth via C-section, and was still making a decision about her playing future.

Ohai, the second overall pick by Houston in the 2014 NWSL Draft, spent six seasons with the Dash before being traded to the Red Stars in 2020.

The midfielder, who is legally blind in her right eye, was a starter with North Carolina from 2010-’13 and helped lead the Tar Heels to an NCAA title in 2012.

Watt and Ohai, who tied the knot in 2020, explained that their biggest adjustment as first-time parents has been the lack of sleep.

“It has been incredible,” Watt said. “It’s also very tiring and difficult, but there is nothing in the entire world that can make you feel the way that your son smiling at you makes you feel. It’s the best.”

Ohai agreed, explaining, “I think as athletes, we were so used to putting our recovery, our sleep, our bodies first, and I think that was the biggest adjustment for us is the sleep.”

Although their days playing in the pros are behind them, Watt and Ohai are staying close to sports.

In May, they announced they were investing in the English soccer team Burnley FC.

Watt and Ohai are also looking forward to attending Steelers games to see his younger brother, Pittsburgh linebacker T.J. Watt, in action.

The couple is also looking forward to less demanding work schedules.