Background and career
Justin James Watt (born March 22, 1989) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons, for the Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals. He played college football for the Central Michigan Chippewas and Wisconsin Badgers and was selected by the Texans in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft.
Watt received the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award three times in his first five seasons. Watt's position was primarily defensive end. He also took snaps on offense, catching three touchdown passes in 2014. Watt holds the Texans franchise records for sacks and forced fumbles. In 2017, Sports Illustrated named him its Sportsman of the Year. Watt is regarded as one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history.
After retiring in 2022, Watt joined CBS Sports, working initially as a studio analyst on The NFL Today and then joining Ian Eagle on the network's #2 game announcing team in 2025, and later Jim Nantz on the network's #1 game announcing team in 2026 after Tony Romo was placed on leave and parted ways with CBS Sports after his arrest for operating while intoxicated. Watt is the older brother of Derek Watt and T. J. Watt.
Watt was born in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, to parents Connie, a building operations vice president, and John, a firefighter. Both of his younger brothers also went on to play in the NFL. Derek Watt was a fullback and T. J. Watt plays outside linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Watt played ice hockey from age four to 13 and played for travel or competitive teams that traveled to Canada and Germany. He gave up hockey when weekly games started to conflict with his schedule and for financial reasons. Watt also played football throughout his childhood and became passionate about the sport while he was in the fifth grade.
Watt attended Pewaukee High School, where he was a four-year letter-winner in football and also lettered in basketball, baseball, and track and field. Watt earned the Woodland Conference Player of the Year Award as a senior, and first-team All-State, All-County, All-Area, and All-Conference selections as tight end and defensive end. He was also named the team's MVP. During his senior year, Watt recorded 26 receptions for 399 yards and five touchdowns.
How J. J. Watt makes money
The Texans signed Watt to a four-year, $11.24 million contract on July 31, 2011. 2014 Prior to the start of the 2014 season, the Texans and Watt agreed to a six-year contract extension, worth $100 million.
