The Trio Of Watt Brothers, ‘J.J., T.J. & Derek Watt,’ born and raised in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, played football at their high school and college before finally making it to the National Football League.
The oldest of the Watt brothers, J.J., aka Justin James Watt, began his NFL journey in 2011 after Housten Texas selected him as the 11th overall pick. J.J. was followed by Derek and then T.J., the youngest one.
In 2020, the Watt brothers created history by playing the same NFL game on Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; it was a special moment for all of them. They posed for a picture before the game, which each shared individually on their respective Instagram handles.
While J.J. captioned the picture, writing, “Started in the backyard…” T.J. wrote, “Today was one for the books!!,” and Derek posted another picture of him with his brothers, writing, “Dream Come True🙌🏼.”
In the meantime, while J.J. Watt played defensive end for the Housten Texas, his two brothers, T.J. and Derek, played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, which won the game, defeating Housten by 28-21.
That was an exciting game for many football enthusiasts because it was the second time in football history, after 1927, that three brothers competed in the same NFL game. In December 2022, two years after such a historic moment, the oldest Watt announced his retirement from the league.
Following that, in March 2024, his other brother Derek also retired from the league, and meanwhile, only T.J. is continuing his NFL career.
The Youngest Watt Brothers, T.J., Is Currently Associated With Pittsburgh Steelers
T.J., aka Trent Jordan Watt, was born on October 11, 1994, to his parents, John and Connie; he was one of the excellent football players at Pewaukee High School, getting three-star prospects from various recruiting services.
With such a record, he was selected to play as a tight end for the Wisconsin Badgers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. During his collegiate career, he succeeded in receiving first-team All-America honors from Sports Illustrated and ESPN.
Likewise, during the 2016 season, he received second-team honors from CBS Sports, Fox Sports, and the Associated Press. Then, in 2017, he eventually made his NFL entry as the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round with the 30th overall pick.
On June 14, 2017, he signed a four-year contract with the Steelers for $9.25 million and received a $4.87 million signing bonus.
Later, on September 9, 2021, T.J. extended his contract for the next four years with the team worth over $112 million with $80 million guaranteed, becoming one of the highest-paid defensive players in the NFL.
Well, his professional life is undoubtedly up to the hype, and he is doing pretty well with his personal life, too. He is happily married to his college sweetheart-turned-wife, Dani Rhodes, and will soon embark on a fatherhood journey as the couple is expecting.
J.J Watt Retired In 2022 And Then Embarked His New Journey As A Studio Analyst
Beginning as an NFL player in 2011, the oldest Watt brother, J.J., achieved milestones over a decade-long career. He primarily played for the Housten Texas, and a year before he announced his retirement, he had signed a contract with the Arizona Cardinals.
In the first five years of his professional football career, J.J. also displayed his caliber, earning titles such as the NFL Defensive Player of the Year and Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year.
Likewise, he became the First-team All-Pro five times, Second-team All-Pro two times, and many others. In 2017, Sports-Illustrated named him the Sportsman of the Year.
After an illustrious 12-year career as a player, J.J. took retirement in 2022, saying, “I’m at peace with my decision.” According to sources, he then started working as a studio analyst at CBS.
In his personal life, he married soccer pro Kealia Ohai Watt on February 15, 2020, and the couple is now the parents of their son, Koa James Watt, who was born on October 23, 2022.
The Middle One, Derek Watt, Also Announced His Retirement In March 2024
Follwing the footsteps of his older brother, J.J., Derek also began his collegiate career at the University of Wisconsin-Madison football in the fullback position.
Pro-Football Focus rated him the second-best fullback before the San Diego Chargers drafted him in the 2016 NFL draft.
In 2020, he signed a three-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers at $9.75 million. After that, the team didn’t sign him again for the 2023 season. Following that, he announced his retirement via Instagram.
On March 12, 2024, he wrote,
The 7 years with 2 great organizations, 110 career games, and lifelong friendships and memories that I’ve been fortunate enough to make have been nothing short of amazing…THANK YOU!
Via Instagram
Derek appears to be spending quality time with his wife, Gabriella Justin, with whom he tied the knot on February 17, 2018, and their two sons, Logan James Watt and Brayden George Watt. The couple is expecting a baby girl.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- All three Watt brothers, J.J., T.J., and Derek, hosted Ultimate Tag, an obstacle course competition series on FOX.
- Their parents are Connie Watt and John Watt. Connie passed away at the age of 60.
