As a Jacksonville Jaguars fan, J.J. Watt is making it harder and harder not to root for him as a member of the Houston Texans. Watt’s off-the-field contributions to those in need continue to amaze the masses.
Per the New York Times, “A few hours after 10 people were killed in a shooting at a high school in Santa Fe, Texas, on Friday, representatives of J.J. Watt, a defensive end for the Houston Texans, were on the phone with local leaders offering his help: He would pay for the victims’ funerals.”
J.J. Watt continues to prove there is humanity in a sport as violent as football. He raised over $37 million for victims of Hurricane Harvey who were left with nothing last year and this month, the All-Pro defensive end gave a middle school in Baytown, Texas to purchase athletic equipment.
“The Texans said in a statement they were “saddened by the tragic events at Santa Fe High School” and extended “heartfelt condolences to the victims, their families and all those affected,” Jeffrey C. Mays writes. “On Twitter, Mr. Watt described the shooting as “absolutely horrific.”
J.J. Watt was drafted by the Texans with the 11th pick in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft and played college football at Wisconsin. In 2017, Watt was honored as the Sports Illustrated Person of the Year. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year was named the Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2017.
Watt is also a four-time Pro Bowl selection (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) and a four-time First-team All-Pro selection (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015).
When news broke of Watt’s desire to help those affected by the massacre, celebrities including Ellen DeGeneres and NFL writer John McClain was quick to praise the 29-year-old for his efforts through social media.
When devastation hit Houston and the surrounding areas prior to the start of the 2017 season, Watt sprung to action through YouCaring, the company that handled donations for the fundraising efforts.
“If there is one thing that I have taken away from these last few weeks, it is the reassurance of how much good is out there in our world,” wrote Watt, in a message on his fund’s page at YouCaring.com. “When times are the toughest, humanity stands at its strongest and you have all helped to prove that emphatically.”