The Watt Family Reunion

Very few parents out there have one NFL superstar kid, let alone two. Fewer still have three kids playing professional football. Enter John and Connie Watt, parents of Houston Texans’ All-Universe defensive lineman J.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro linebacker T.J. Watt, and Steelers fullback Derek Watt.

This weekend marks the first time all three sons will take the field in the same NFL game. Unfortunately, Mr. & Mrs. Watt won’t be in attendance.

Thanks to COVID-19 and a fan-less Heinz Field, the Houston Texans will travel to face the Pittsburgh Steelers in a stadium devoid Ma and Pa Watt.

Connie Watt:

[It’s] extremely [difficult], we’ve been at all the games when the kids played one another. We always try to go to as many games as possible ... Not being there is really hard. This is a dream come true to have all three of them on the field, playing together at the same time. Photo opportunities, it’s something we’ve always wanted and dreamed of, and to not be able to be there is really difficult. I just keep holding out hope somehow we’re gonna sneak into that stadium ... It’s probably one of the hardest things for our family.

John Watt:

We thought about can we buy some staff jackets online or medical jackets and maybe sneak into a back entrance, but we don’t want to take those chances.

While Poppa Watt clearly has the dad jokes ready to go, he let his real feelings show.

John Watt:

For this one, I think I feel best for J.J. because he’s never had the chance to be on the same field with T.J., even though there was the opportunity for it before. J.J. was hurt or something, so it never quite worked out. To have all three of them on the field at the same time, it’s one of those things in the back of your mind you wish it would happen, but you never actually think it’s gonna happen. When it actually comes true like this, it’s unbelievable.

It’s hard to deny there’s a certain contingent of Houston Texans fans that wishes J.J. would join his brothers in Pittsburgh to contend for a Super Bowl victory, something all three sons have dreamed of their whole lives. The chances of J.J. getting one in Houston seem to grow slimmer with every snap, every injury, and every game in the current Texans system. Not to mention odds are the Steelers aren’t about to trade T.J. and Derek to Houston, especially since Texans football czar Bill O’Brien traded away DeAndre Hopkins and Jadeveon Clowney, plus a mountain of draft picks, to gain Laremy Tunsil, Jacob Martin and David Johnson.

Now, despite the mountain of cash J.J. Watt earns every year via his monumental contract, he’s learning a lesson his mother has been teaching for years:

Connie Watt

I always said with J.J. and his success and everything, there’s certain things money just cannot buy. He could never buy the fact that you can’t play with your brothers.

This Sunday will be the closest these three guys will ever get to playing for the same team. Mark your calendars, as this one is going to be special in the life of one of Houston’s all-time sports greats.