The greatest defensive player of the 21st century — five-time Defensive Player of the Year whose combination of pass-rushing, run-stopping and playmaking was the most dominant individual defensive performance in modern NFL history.
J.J. Watt is one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history, winning the AP Defensive Player of the Year award three times — in 2012, 2014, and 2015 — making him one of only two players to win it more than twice. The 6-foot-5, 295-pound defensive end was a complete player who disrupted passing games with his pass rush and run games with his strength. His off-field charity work, particularly after Hurricane Harvey, made him beloved across the NFL.
Best Known For
Hall of Fame 2024
Honours & Achievements
Career Honours
- Hall of Fame 2024
- Defensive Player of the Year 5x (2012, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2021)
- Pro Bowl 5x
- All-Pro 5x
- Walter Payton Man of the Year 2017
- 99-sack career total
Career Journey
Timeline
1989
👶 Born in Friendswood, USA
2022
🏁 Retired from professional sport
🏟️ Houston Texans
🏟️ Arizona Cardinals
🏟️ Pittsburgh Steelers
🏟️ Pittsburgh Steelers (2016)
🏆 Hall of Fame 2024
🏆 Defensive Player of the Year 5x (2012, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2021)
🏆 Pro Bowl 5x
🏆 All-Pro 5x
🏆 Walter Payton Man of the Year 2017
🏆 99-sack career total