JJ Watt’s Memorable Return to Houston

JJ Watt’s return to Houston was truly a moment to cherish.

Before the game on Sunday between the Texans and Jaguars, Watt, now 36 and working as a CBS Sports announcer, shared a touching experience on the field with his 3-year-old son, Koa, at NRG Stadium, the place he called home for a decade.

“It was awesome,” Watt expressed. “Getting my wife, Kealia, and our son, Koa, out on the field was really special. I have a ton of memories in this stadium, many of them great. When Koa hit that end zone, I felt like I was back in my element, and it felt incredible.”

The Texans chose Watt as the 11th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft after he excelled at Wisconsin. Over his ten seasons in Houston, he established himself as one of the league’s top defensive players, winning Defensive Player of the Year three times and earning five first-team All-Pro selections.

Following the 2020 season, Watt requested his release from the Texans and subsequently signed a two-year deal with the Cardinals.

In 2021, he suffered a shoulder injury that required surgery midway through the season. The following year, he faced another health challenge when he revealed in October 2022 that he had experienced atrial fibrillation, describing it as his “heart being shocked into rhythm.”

Watt then announced he would retire after that season, concluding his impressive NFL career with 448 solo tackles and 114.5 sacks over 151 regular-season games.

After hanging up his cleats, Watt joined CBS Sports in 2023. Initially, he worked as a studio host before transitioning to the booth alongside announcer Ian Eagle.

During this time, Watt and Kealia welcomed their second child, son Nico Benjamin, in June, followed by their daughter Core in October 2022. This all came two years after their marriage.