Tag: J.J. Watt

Texans legend J.J. Watt, wife Kealia announce pregnancy

Congrats to the Watt family for welcoming another member to the Texans clan!

Add a future Houston Texans star to the crew in 2025.

Three-time Defensive Player of the Year and Texans legend J.J. Watt and his wife, Kealia Watt, that the two are expecting their second child, posting a pregnancy announcement on Instagram Monday.

“Can’t wait to welcome new love into our lives,” the couple posted Monday afternoon, along with photos of Kealia’s baby bump.

The former Houston power couple welcomed their first child, Koa James, in October 2022. Three months following Koa’s birth, J.J. retired with the Arizona Cardinals.

J.J. played 10 of his 12 NFL seasons with the Texans before spending the final two years with the Cardinals. After retirement, he was inducted into the Texans’ Ring of Honor in 2023.

Kealia, who won a national championship at the University of North Carolina, was the No. 2 overall pick of the Houston Dash in the 2014 NWSL draft. She met J.J. through sister, Megan, who is married to Watt’s former Texans teammate Brian Cushing.

The two began dating in 2016 when Ohai was in her third season with the Dash. They married in 2020 shortly after Ohai was traded from the Dash to the Chicago Red Stars.

Since retiring, the Watt’s have been busy. J.J. currently works for CBS Sports as an analyst. The couple also are minority owners of the Premier League’s Burnley Football Club, which was relegated following the 2024 season.

J.J. Watt had the correct, blunt take on a new Pro Bowl nickname

J.J. Watt nailed it.

The NFL Pro Bowl has become a source of a lot of mocking, and rightfully so.

There’s no more game (thank goodness!) and instead a bunch of events and games that usually leave players shaking their heads. That said, some players do get snubbed in the process, but then there are all these replacements for injuries or guys who bow out.

Russell Wilson and Drake Maye are now Pro Bowlers because Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen are out, which is just wild, and I think that’s what prompted the legend J.J. Watt to tweet this: “When you get 5 alternates deep, just call it the Participation Bowl.”

YES!

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J.J. Watt fuels unretirement to join Bengals rumors

Like Rob Gronkowski before him, J.J. Watt is the new unretirement for Bengals rumor.

Not that long ago, Rob Gronkowski revealed that Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow did, in fact, recruit him to come out of retirement and join the team. 

Now it seems we’re getting the J.J. Watt version of that story.

Watt took to social media this weekend to reveal that he had made a specific wager with Burnley F.C. goalkeeper James Trafford.

Simply put, Watt bet Trafford on December 28 that if doesn’t let up another goal for the remainder of the season, Watt would come out of retirement to play for the Bengals.

Since that bet? Burnley has let up zero goals over five matches, including two saved penalty kicks during Trafford’s latest match.

Watt, who is a partial owner of Burnley, posted a caption that says it all:

 

The Bengals adding Watt to pair with Trey Hendrickson would be wild and go a long way toward fixing one of the defense’s biggest problems.

Reality check time, though — Trafford will have to keep up his end of the bargain through the end of his season on May 3.

In other news, there are suddenly quite a few new Burnley fans in the greater Cincinnati area.

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J.J. Watt welcomes Broncos DL Zach Allen to impressive club

Broncos DL Zach Allen is just the fifth player since 2006 to total 40 QB hits in a single season. J.J. Watt welcomed him to the club.

Denver Broncos defensive lineman Zach Allen had a brilliant 2024 season.

The 27-year-old defensive tackle ended the regular season with 75 pressures, 61 tackles, 40 quarterback hits, 8.5 sacks, one pass breakup and one safety in 16 games.

Allen became just the fifth player since 2006 to record at least 40 QB hits in a single season, joining an impressive club led by J.J. Watt (four times),  T.J. Watt (2020), Nick Bosa (2022) and Aaron Donald (2018).

Watt, who was teammates with Allen from 2021-2022, took to Twitter/X to congratulate Allen for the impressive feat:

Watt also endorsed Allen as a candidate to receive first-team All-Pro recognition from the Associated Press. Allen ended up making the second-team All-Pro squad, and he was named an alternate for the Pro Bowl.

Through two seasons with the Broncos, Allen has totaled 121 tackles, 64 QB hits and 13.5 sacks. He has emerged as one of the best interior defensive linemen in the NFL over the last two years.

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Nik Bonitto snubbed for weekly award despite matching J.J. Watt’s impressive stat

Nik Bonitto is the NFL’s first player since J.J. Watt (2014) with double-digit sacks and multiple TDs in a season. Watt won DPOY in 2014.

Denver Broncos outside linebacker Nik Bonitto was not named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week following his impressive performance against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

The NFL instead gave that honor to Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley after he totaled five tackles, two interceptions and two pass breakups in Week 15.

Bonitto was snubbed after recording five tackles (including one behind the line of scrimmage), one quarterback hit, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, a half-sack and a 50-yard fumble-six.

Bonitto now has 11.5 sacks on the season, tied for third overall and just one sack away from Trey Hendrickson’s league-leading 12.5 sacks.

Before his fumble-six against the Colts, Bonitto had a 71-yard pick-six against the Cleveland Browns in Denver’s previous game, making him the first player in NFL history to post 50-plus-yard defensive touchdowns in consecutive games.

Bonitto is also the first player to record double-digit sacks and multiple touchdowns since J.J. Watt accomplished that feat in 2014. Watt ended that season with 20.5 sacks and he was named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year.

Bonitto would probably need to lead the league in sacks to have a shot of winning DPOY this season. The 25-year-old pass rusher has three games remaining to build on his career-high 11.5 sacks in 2024.

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NFL legend humorously slams Dan Campbell for his onside kick decision

J.J. Watt didn’t like Campbell’s decision to try an onside kick against the Bills early in the fourth quarter

The Lions were humbled in their 48-42 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 15. One of the key moments came early in the fourth quarter when head coach Dan Campbell’s aggressive nature bit him. After the Lions went 70 yards in just two minutes to cut the lead to 38-28, Campbell decided to go for an onside kick to try and steal a possession and keep Bills quarterback Josh Allen off the field. Unfortunately for Campbell and the Lions, the decision backfired in spectacular fashion.

Instead of the Bills just taking over possession, Mack Hollins returned the ball all the way to the Lions’ 5-yard line. Buffalo needed just one play to find the end zone.

While that decision isn’t the main reason the Lions lost, it’s a decision that will be talked about all week. One national analyst had an interesting thought on the decision.

CBS NFL analyst and future Hall of Fame defensive end J.J. Watt had this to say about Campbell’s choice: “I ‘think’ I could wrestle a small bear, that doesn’t mean I should try it.’

Watt also noted that he loves that Dan Campbell “believes in his squad so much that he thinks everything they do will be successful…but onside kicks have a 7% success rate. Trying one with 12 minutes left while only down by 10 was insane.”

Campbell took full responsibility for not only the failed onside kick, but the loss itself. It was a roller coaster of a Sunday for Detroit but they are still atop the NFC standings at 12-2, but now have the Philadelphia Eagles also at 12-2 with the Minnesota Vikings having a chance to match as well Monday against the Chicago Bears. It’s not panic time yet in Detroit…but the worry meter rose slightly.

Mike Tomlin has hilarious reaction to signing T.J. Watt’s big bro, J.J.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin joked about signing T.J. Watt’s big brother, J.J. Watt, on The Pat McAfee Show.

NFL legend J.J. Watt has been linked to the Pittsburgh Steelers several times, but nothing substantial has ever come from it. Instead, the eldest Watt has been to the Steelers facility and games to support his brother T.J. Watt — most recently this past week when the Steelers took on the Cleveland Browns.

The former Houston Texans defender turned broadcaster has even upped his Terrible Towel twirling game after being blasted for his technique last season.

Mike Tomlin, a guest on The Pat McAfee Show, said this when asked if he’s tried to sign J.J. when he’s in Pittsburgh.

We don’t have enough cash for two Watts.

T.J. Watt will enter the final year of a massive four-year, $112 million contract in 2025. Gerry Dulac, Steelers insider for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, doesn’t believe the team will prioritize re-signing Watt in the offseason.

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J.J. Watt weighs in on Azeez Al-Shaair being suspended for hit on Trevor Lawrence

J.J. Watt has some thoughts on Azeez Al-Shaair being suspended for hit on Trevor Lawrence

Former Houston Texans star J.J. Watt knows that tackling is a part of the game of football.

Much like other players, he is not a fan of the elongated suspension for Azeez Al-Shaair following the hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

During a segment on “The Pat McAfee Show,” the three-time Defensive Player of the Year voiced his opinion on how the league has handled the situation that occurred in Week 13. He understands both sides, but it’s clear the defender has a soft spot for the defensive player.

“You want Trevor to be okay and that’s hands down first and foremost, No. 1,” Watt told McAfee and co-host A.J. Hawk. “I do think that there’s justification for punishment there, no doubt. I do also think that the punishment is extremely harsh.”

Al-Shaair, who plans to appeal the case on Wednesday with NFLPA representative Ramon Foster, was ejected from the game after the hit. The league office stated as to why Al-Shaair would be suspended, calling out his “lack of sportsmanship and respect for the game of football.”

Texans general manager Nick Caserio called out the NFL for its wording in the letter against Al-Shaair. Watt echoed a similar sentiment.

“If you listen to the comparisons of other punishments that have been handed down across the league and you look at the history and the precedent there, the inconsistency in the punishment is an issue, but I understand a punishment should be handed down,” Watt said.

The Texans enter the bye week at 8-5. Should Al-Shaair’s suspension hold, he won’t be clear to return until Week 18’s season finale matchup against the Tennessee Titans.

Texans legend J.J. Watt to be a part of Monday Night Football fun

J.J. Watt might not be on the field, but he’ll be on Monday Night Football when the Houston Texans take on the Dallas Cowboys.

The last time the Houston Texans were on “Monday Night Football,” J.J. Watt appeared on the television screen.

Five years might have passed and Watt might have retired, but the former All-Pro defensive end will still appear on your television when Houston faces off against the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.

Watt will appear on the “ManningCast” alternate telecast on ESPN2 opposite Peyton and Eli Manning during Monday’s game. The national broadcast will air on ABC and ESPN beginning at 7:15 p.m. CT.

Watt, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year during his 10 seasons with the Texans, will appear during the fourth quarter with the Manning brothers. Former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick will appear during the first half for his weekly segment.

While many Texans fans have been waiting for Watt to come out of retirement, at least they’ll see the top defensive player in franchise history talk about the program in prominence on national television.

The Texans will be playing their first Monday night outing since Sept. 9, 2019, when they opened the season with a 30-28 loss against the New Orleans Saints. That also marked the first appearance of Laremy Tunsil in a Houston uniform after the preseason trade leading into the new campaign.

The Texans (6-4) trail the series against the Cowboys (3-6) all-time at 4-2.

J.J. Watt, like all of us, is tired of talking about Aaron Rodgers and the Jets

Preach, J.J. Watt. Preach.

Former NFL defensive end J.J. Watt sounds ready for the sports world to move past talking about Aaron Rodgers and the struggling New York Jets.

The 2-6 Jets take on the Houston Texans on Thursday night in a game that could push New York further down the list of lackluster NFL teams.

Amid a Pat McAfee Show discussion on the Rodgers cayenne pepper water thing this week, Watt lamented about how much he wants to stop talking about Rodgers and the Jets.

“I’m so sick of all of us talking about this [expletive],” Watt said about the Jets. “Like, it’s not working… They’re 2-6.”

Preach, J.J. Watt. We’re all tired of talking about that quarterback and his football team, too.

Some NSFW language to follow.