When J.J. Watt goes home after a game, Houston Texans practice or film session, he likely prepares himself to calm down and think about anything but football or his body. However, with a fellow athlete in the house, that’s not the case.
Watt’s fiancée Kealia Ohai, a star in the NWSL, is considered to be one of the best soccer players in the world — the Houston Dash recently traded her to the Chicago Red Stars. Watt is one of the best pass rushers in the world. When the two combine forces, their conversations are a jumble of workout and recovery tactics.
“We love talking about and there’s nothing better than obviously having an athlete who understands,” Watt said on Wednesday. “We talk about workouts and recovery more than we talk about anything, because she’s right now training extremely hard. So, we literally are talking about deceleration patterns and how you’re supposed to decelerate and which leg you’re supposed to plant off of and cutting.”
Most don’t consider the small things both Watt and Ohai think about. But, for the two, it takes up the bulk of their conversation. They push each other. In culmination, Watt sees himself well-equipped for his next opponent.
“It’s boring, but for us it’s really exciting nerdy sports stuff, and it’s cool,” Watt said. “I mean, she fills my Game Ready for me every night. Like stupid stuff, but it’s awesome and I’m so glad that she understands and we understand each other and what we go through.”
Ohai’s help may have played a part in one of the better comebacks in recent memory. Watt tore his pectoral in Week 8 against the Oakland Raiders. It was considered season-ending after surgery. However, he found himself back on the roster two months later, playing in the Texans’ wild-card win over the Buffalo Bills.