J.J. Watt's Greatest Moments

For the 2017 Sportsperson of the Year, Sports Illustrated selected two players who lifted up the city of Houston after immense devastation in different and powerful ways: J.J. Watt and José Altuve. Here, we look back at Watt’s impressive résumé—on and off the field. — Nihal Kolur

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Dec 5, 2017

J.J. Watt's Greatest Moments

2010: Launches Justin J. Watt Foundation

In 2010, Watt founded a charity that provides after-school opportunities for children in different communities, aiming to get them involved in athletics in a safe environment. The foundation’s motto is “Dream Big, Work Hard” and has raised over $1 million since its launch. Watt and the foundation host annual events including a Charity Classic, a softball game where Texans players participate; a Run/Walk; a golf outing; and a tailgate.

December 2010: Earns Lott Award for Performance and Character, named First-team All-America and First-team All-Big Ten

Watt received the award named for Hall of Fame defensive back Ronnie Lott in Dec. 2010. It honors on-field performance and personal character among defensive players. Watt led the Rose Bowl-bound Badgers with 21 tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hurries and seven sacks on the season. He also forced three fumbles, recovered two, had an interception and blocked three kicks. Because of his work on the field, he was named to AP’s first-team All-America and first-team All-Big Ten. Off the field, Watt formed his own charity to benefit local elementary and middle schools that lack funding and was an honor student. To date, he is still the only Wisconsin player to win the award.

Apr. 28, 2011: Drafted by the Texans

Watt was selected 11th overall in the 2011 NFL draft by the Texans after he was a top performer in all combine categories except the 40-yard dash. In July, the Texans signed Watt to a four-year, $11.24 million contract.

2011: Meets Berry Family

In July 2011, the Berry Family was traveling home from a vacation in Colorado when the parents, Joshua and Robin, were killed in a head-on collision that also left their two sons, Peter and Aaron, handicapped. Their daughter, Willa, suffered minor injuries. Watt met the children at a fundraiser and has stayed in touch with them ever since. He played wheelchair basketball with them in '12 and often salutes them on the field, celebrating a sack with a wheelchair motion.

January 2012: Named Texans Team Rookie of the Year

Watt finished his rookie season with 48 solo tackles, eight assisted tackles and five-and-a-half sacks while starting all 16 games. On the strength of Watt’s performance, the Texans went to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history and Watt recorded four sacks, one interception (that was returned for a touchdown) and 11 tackles in two postseason games against Cincinnati and Baltimore. For his efforts throughout the season, Watt was named Texans Team Rookie of the Year, USA Today All-Joe Team, and Pro-Football Weekly/PWFA All-Rookie Team.

Dec. 28, 2012: Spends time with Sandy Hook students

Following the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary school in Newtown, Conn., Watt met with some of the students as they visited Houston for the weekend. “They were stopping by our stadium,” Watt told USA Today’s Mike Garafolo, “so I had a chance to take them out on the field and hang out with them.” The families left with signed, game-used merchandise. “I just kind of wanted to give them as normal a day as possible,” he said of the moment.

Feb. 2, 2013: Earns 49 out of 50 votes for Defensive Player of the Year

Watt had one of the most dominant defensive seasons in modern NFL history in 2012 on his way to being named the AP Defensive Player of the Year. Despite rushing from the inside, Watt wreaked havoc on opposing quarterbacks, finishing with 20.5 sacks and an NFL-record 16 tipped passes on the season. He also was a stout run-stuffer, finishing with 23 tackles for loss.

Sept. 2, 2014: Agrees to six-year, $100 million contract extension with Texans

Ahead of his fourth season in the NFL, Watt and the Texans agreed to a six-year, $100 million contract extension. Watt received $30.876 million guaranteed at signing, and an additional $21 million came fully guaranteed because he was on the roster at the start of the 2016 league year. The contract made him the NFL’s highest paid non-quarterback, based on average yearly salary.

Dec. 30, 2013: Named to second Pro Bowl

Watt followed up his 2012 Defensive Player of the Year campaign by totaling a career-high 108 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, a league-high 44 quarterback hits, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, six passes defensed and two blocked field goals. The Texans, however, finished with a 2-14 record.

Sept. 14, 2014: Becomes first defensive player in Texans history to score a touchdown from scrimmage

Against the Raiders in Week 2 of 2014, Watt came into the game as a tight end and caught a one-yard touchdown to become the first defensive player in Texans history to score a touchdown from scrimmage. He scored his second touchdown of the season just two weeks later when he intercepted a pass from Bills quarterback EJ Manuel and returned it 80 yards for the score.

Nov. 14, 2014: Nominated for NFL’s Salute to Service Award

The award is presented to a player, coach or owner who devotes time and effort to honor those who serve their country. “I think the people that really deserve that fame and that coverage are the men and women of the military because they are the people who go out there and put their lives on the line,” Watt said. “They play a life or death game. And I just go out there and play a game with a football. I feel like any chance that I get, any chance that we get as athletes, we should use our platform and coverage to give recognition, to give thanks, to show our appreciation to the men and women of the military who make it possible for us to do this for a living.”

Nov. 30, 2014: Becomes first defensive lineman to score at least five TDs since 1944

Watt scored his fifth touchdown of the season at the end of November 2014, catching a one-yard pass from Texans quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. With the reception, Watt became the first defensive lineman to have scored at least five touchdowns in a season since 1944.

Dec. 21, 2014: Passes Mario Williams as franchise leader in sacks

On Dec. 21, Watt recorded his 54th career sack as a Texan in a win against the Ravens. With that sack, he surpassed Mario Williams as the franchise leader in sacks.

Dec. 28, 2014: Becomes first player in NFL history to have 20 or more sacks in multiple seasons

Watt became the first player in NFL history to have 20 or more sacks in multiple seasons when he recorded his third sack of the day against the Jacksonville Jaguars, giving him 20.5 on the season. Watt also finished the season with a career-high five fumble recoveries.

January 2016: Selected to 2016 Pro Bowl, receives third Defensive Player of the Year award

2015_best player_R.jpg — Scott Halleran/Getty Images

Watt started all 16 games in 2015 despite dealing with a fractured left hand and a groin injury. He made 76 tackles and led the NFL with 17.5 sacks, eight passes defensed, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He was named to his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl and won his third Defensive Player of the Year award, tying Lawrence Taylor as the only player to do so. The Texans finished 9-7 on the season to win the AFC South division, but lost to Kansas City 30-0 in the wild card round.

Sept. 15, 2017: Watt’s Hurricane Harvey fundraiser tops $37 million

The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year launched a fund on YouCaring.com to raise money for victims of Hurricane Harvey on Aug. 26 with an initial goal of $200,000. Watt closed the fundraiser after raising an astonishing $37,097,298, more than 185 times his initial goal. The fund has been buoyed by big donations from some big names in the world of sports. Chris Paul donated $50,000, Watt donated $100,000 of his own money and Tennessee Titans owner and Houston native Amy Adams Strunk donated $1 million on behalf of the Titans organization.

J.J. Watt's Greatest Moments