JJ Watt hailed James Trafford and Burnley for their "unbelievable run" of clean sheets after the NFL legend won his Cincinnati Bengals retirement bet.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Watt had an unusual bet with TraffordWas supposed to come out of retirement if Burnley didn't concede The 12-match streak was finally broken against Cardiff CityFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The NFL icon, who is a minority investor of the club, had jokingly placed a bet with Trafford that if Burnley managed to keep their clean sheet streak going for the rest of the season, he would come out of retirement and suit up for the Cincinnati Bengals. For months, Burnley’s defence held firm, with Trafford putting in one impressive performance after another. However, their run of 12 consecutive shutouts finally came to an end on Tuesday night when they faced Cardiff City in a Championship showdown.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Heading into their clash with Cardiff, Burnley had not conceded a single goal in the Championship since December 21, when they secured a 2-1 victory over Watford. Although they continued their winning form, securing a 2-1 victory courtesy of goals from Josh Brownhill and Maxim Esteve, Yousef Salech managed to find the net for the home side in the first half, bringing an end to Burnley’s stunning streak of consecutive clean sheets. While the goal meant that Watt was no longer at risk of making an NFL comeback, he remained highly impressed by Burnley’s defensive resilience.
WHAT WATT SAID
After the match, Watt took to X (formerly Twitter) to reflect on Burnley’s outstanding run and the bond that had formed between Burnley fans and the Cincinnati Bengals community through his playful wager with Trafford.
He wrote: "Cincinnati, that was a fun ride. Hope you enjoyed getting to know a bit about Burnley & our squad.
"What an unbelievable run for Traff & the boys. An improbable bond formed from across the pond. Bengals fans are welcome on Turf Moor any time. As for me: A feast & a drink await."
DID YOU KNOW?
Despite conceding against Cardiff, Burnley’s defensive numbers remain unmatched in the Championship. They have allowed just 10 goals in 35 matches, which is by far the best record in the league. Trafford, the team’s ever-present shot-stopper, has played in every game of the season, managing to keep 25 clean sheets – in what is a staggering achievement.