T.J. Watt

Trent Jordan 'T.J.' Watt was born October 11, 1994, in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, into the single most productive family of defensive ends in NFL history. His older brothers J.J. Watt and Derek Watt both played in the NFL, with J.J. a five-time first-team All-Pro and three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year. The Watt brothers' path from small-town Wisconsin to NFL stardom has become one of the defining family stories of modern professional football.

Watt attended Pewaukee High School in Wisconsin, where he was a multi-sport athlete. He signed with Wisconsin, his brothers' alma mater, and converted from tight end to linebacker during his college career — a position change that dramatically altered his NFL trajectory. His 2016 Wisconsin season produced All-Big Ten honors and placed him on the NFL Draft first-round radar.

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Watt 30th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft, and he has spent his entire career building one of the most dominant pass-rushing résumés of the modern era. He won NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 after tying Michael Strahan's single-season sack record with 22.5, joining his brother J.J. as the only Watts to win the award.

Watt has earned multiple first-team All-Pro selections and Pro Bowl appearances, with several seasons of 15-plus sacks and consistent recognition as one of the most productive edge rushers in the NFL. His combination of bend, power, and football intelligence has made him a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate, and he remains the heart of the Steelers' defense under head coach Mike Tomlin.

His career résumé includes NFL Defensive Player of the Year, multiple first-team All-Pro selections, numerous Pro Bowl appearances, and the franchise single-season sack record. He has become one of the defining figures in Steelers defensive history, with his relentless effort and production evoking comparisons to the franchise's all-time great linebackers and pass rushers.

Watt married wife Dani Rhodes, a professional soccer player, in 2023. He has been active with charitable work alongside his brothers, and the Watt family's collective philanthropy in both Wisconsin and Pittsburgh has become one of the most visible in professional sports. He maintains endorsement partnerships with Verizon, Snickers, Bose, and others. His brothers J.J. and Derek's own post-playing media presences have extended the Watt family's cultural reach beyond pure football achievement.