New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) and Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) meet prior to kickoff of a game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
J.J. Watt remembers his first sack (it was Drew Brees) and Steve Gleason
The first of J.J. Watt's 92 career sacks came against Drew Brees in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
It was Week 3 of the 2011 season.
But the moment Watt talked about before the Saints and Texans opened the season Monday in New Orleans was what happened just before kickoff.
"Steve Gleason came out before the opening kickoff, and he led the 'Who Dat' chant," Watt said this week about the former Saints safety who was diagnosed with ALS that year. "As a rookie, you're standing in that stadium, and Gleason walks like 5 yards, put his hand up and they do the 'Who Dat' chant.
"That was one of the coolest experiences I've ever seen in a stadium because of everything it encompasses. Everything that was happening with (Gleason) and with the history and the tradition.”
The first career sack for Watt didn't help the Texans win. The Saints won 40-33.
"I don’t know if I’ve ever heard anything that loud before a game," Watt said. "So to was pretty cool. You definitely feed off that. I always have a ton of respect for fan bases that have that reputation and that atmosphere. It’s a blast. Even if it’s an opposing atmosphere, you want to play in a situation like that. I always look forward to it.”
The Saints and Texans have not played in the regular season since 2015. The Saints lost 24-6 and failed to score a touchdown for the first time in the 10 seasons since coach Sean Payton and Brees arrived in 2006.
It was during that game when Watt said the Saints should find a new right tackle. The right tackle now is Ryan Ramczyk, who can describe some of what makes Watt different than most defensive ends.
