What NFL Team Does JJ Watt Play For?

JJ Watt is one of the most dominant defensive players in the NFL, and he currently plays for the Houston Texans. He is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and was named first-team All-Pro four times.

JJ Watt’s History

JJ Watt is an American football defensive end for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Texans with the 11th pick in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft, and played college football at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

High school career

At Pewaukee High School, Watt played football, basketball, and baseball. As a senior, he was named first-team All-State and the conference defensive player of the year in football after compiling 140 tackles, 19 for loss, 11 sacks, and three forced fumbles. He was also named a first-team All-Area and All-Conference selection in baseball as a senior after hitting .280 with six home runs. In track & field, Watt was one of the state’s top performers in the shot put (top throw of 15.71 meters) and Discussion (top throw of 49.38 meters).

College career

Watt played college football for the University of Wisconsin, and was a first-team All-American as a junior and senior. He was drafted by the Houston Texans with the 11th pick in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft, and played for the Texans from 2011 to 2020. In his first season, Watt was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. He became the first player in NFL history to record two 20+ sack seasons in 2012 and 2014. In 2014, Watt was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year for a second time, becoming only one of three players to win multiple Defensive Player of the Year Awards since it was first awarded in 1971. He has also been voted to five Pro Bowls, and holds Texans’ franchise records for both sacks (101) and forced fumbles (25).

NFL Career

Houston Texans

As of September 2020, JJ Watt is a defensive end for the Houston Texans. He was drafted by the Texans in 2011 and has played his entire career with the team. He is a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and a five-time Pro Bowler.

Wisconsin Badgers

Wisconsin Badgers defensive end J.J. Watt was drafted by the Houston Texans with the 11th pick in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He has played his entire professional career with the Texans.

Watt’s Impact

On the field

As afootball player, Watt has numerous accomplishments. He is a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, four-time first-team All-Pro, and four-time Pro Bowler. He was also voted the NFL Defensive MVP in 2014 and 2015. In his six NFL seasons, he has recorded 74 sacks and forced 19 fumbles. He is currently ranked fourth in the NFL with 15 sacks in the 2019 season.

Off the field

Watt has been praised for his work in the community. In October 2014, it was announced that Watt would be partnering with Reebok to donate US$10,000 for every sack he makes during the season to after-school athletic programs in the Houston area. After Week 1, in which he recorded two sacks, Watt announced that he would up the ante and donate US$11,000 for every sack from then on. On November 2, 2014 base on his performances and his commitment to giving back to the community he was named the NFLPA’s Community MVP of October. In January 2015, it was revealed that Watt had raised over $200,000 for charity by auctioning off his personal items and asking others to donate to his cause. That month, Houston mayor Annise Parker declared January 13 “JJ Watt Day” in honor of his philanthropy. In September 2015, it was revealed that as a result of fundraising by Watt and others following the massive rains and resulting floods of May 2015 in Central Texas (including the city of Houston), over $30 million had been raised for flood relief efforts. Also in September 2015, it was reported that following a successful online fundraiser started by Watt (in response to images of a young fan wearing a homemade jersey of him with makeshift shoulder pads made out of cardboard), more than $600,000 had been raised for a scholarship fund for the young man’s future schooling.