T.J. Watt Asks Not to Compare Him to Brother J.J.: 'I'm Too Early in My Career'

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: Cooper Neill/GettyWhile Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebackerT.J. Wattwas named the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year, he says he still needs time to live up to his older brother,J.J. Watt.During an interview with thePivot Podcast, T.J. praised his brother J.J. for having dominated his position as a defensive end for the Houston Texans for so many years.“I want people to understand how great my brother truly was in his prime,” T.J. told the podcast in a clip published Tuesday. “You go back and you look, you watch the film, the guy was frickin' unstoppable. Absolutely unstoppable. He’ll never say it, but people need to go back and look at that.“J.J. was the star defensive end for the Texans from 2011 to 2020, before joining the Cardinals in 2021. The 33-year-old is a five-time Pro Bowl selection and set numerous franchise records in Houston. He was also named the Defensive Player of the Year in 2012, 2014 and 2015.“The guy was doing incredible things for four or five years,” T.J. told Pivot, “and I think he can still play at a high level. I think I’m too early in my career to compare myself to him.“Since joining the Cardinals, J.J. hasn’t experienced the same level of success as he had in Houston, partially due to injuries that kept him off the filed for most of last season, but he has much to look forward to in the coming months — his wife, Kealia Watt, is pregnant withtheir first child together.“Could not be more excited. ❤️💙,” J.J. wrote in a JuneInstagrampost.Earlier this year J.J. celebrated the couple’s second wedding anniversary with a message on Instagram.“I don’t know where or how this tradition started, but every time we get dressed up for an event or go somewhere together, we take a photo in the elevator. It’s a 10 second thing that captures a moment for us to remember as we look back at all the photos and reminisce on the nights and events that have passed,” hewrotealongside a mirror selfie of the pair.RELATED VIDEO: Brittany Mahomes Shows Sterling Spilling Cereal as Patrick Teases She’s ‘Just Like Her Momma’“Through 2 years of marriage, many memories have already been created, with so many more on the horizon. (It’s also a way for me to look exponential better because you bring the 🔥 every time.) Happy Anniversary@kealiamaeI love you,” he added.In July,T.J. married soccer star Dani Rhodesin Cabo San Lucas. Heannounced his engagementto Rhodes last year.

Photo: Cooper Neill/Getty

While Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebackerT.J. Wattwas named the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year, he says he still needs time to live up to his older brother,J.J. Watt.During an interview with thePivot Podcast, T.J. praised his brother J.J. for having dominated his position as a defensive end for the Houston Texans for so many years.“I want people to understand how great my brother truly was in his prime,” T.J. told the podcast in a clip published Tuesday. “You go back and you look, you watch the film, the guy was frickin' unstoppable. Absolutely unstoppable. He’ll never say it, but people need to go back and look at that.“J.J. was the star defensive end for the Texans from 2011 to 2020, before joining the Cardinals in 2021. The 33-year-old is a five-time Pro Bowl selection and set numerous franchise records in Houston. He was also named the Defensive Player of the Year in 2012, 2014 and 2015.“The guy was doing incredible things for four or five years,” T.J. told Pivot, “and I think he can still play at a high level. I think I’m too early in my career to compare myself to him.“Since joining the Cardinals, J.J. hasn’t experienced the same level of success as he had in Houston, partially due to injuries that kept him off the filed for most of last season, but he has much to look forward to in the coming months — his wife, Kealia Watt, is pregnant withtheir first child together.“Could not be more excited. ❤️💙,” J.J. wrote in a JuneInstagrampost.Earlier this year J.J. celebrated the couple’s second wedding anniversary with a message on Instagram.“I don’t know where or how this tradition started, but every time we get dressed up for an event or go somewhere together, we take a photo in the elevator. It’s a 10 second thing that captures a moment for us to remember as we look back at all the photos and reminisce on the nights and events that have passed,” hewrotealongside a mirror selfie of the pair.RELATED VIDEO: Brittany Mahomes Shows Sterling Spilling Cereal as Patrick Teases She’s ‘Just Like Her Momma’“Through 2 years of marriage, many memories have already been created, with so many more on the horizon. (It’s also a way for me to look exponential better because you bring the 🔥 every time.) Happy Anniversary@kealiamaeI love you,” he added.In July,T.J. married soccer star Dani Rhodesin Cabo San Lucas. Heannounced his engagementto Rhodes last year.

While Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebackerT.J. Wattwas named the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year, he says he still needs time to live up to his older brother,J.J. Watt.

During an interview with thePivot Podcast, T.J. praised his brother J.J. for having dominated his position as a defensive end for the Houston Texans for so many years.

“I want people to understand how great my brother truly was in his prime,” T.J. told the podcast in a clip published Tuesday. “You go back and you look, you watch the film, the guy was frickin' unstoppable. Absolutely unstoppable. He’ll never say it, but people need to go back and look at that.”

J.J. was the star defensive end for the Texans from 2011 to 2020, before joining the Cardinals in 2021. The 33-year-old is a five-time Pro Bowl selection and set numerous franchise records in Houston. He was also named the Defensive Player of the Year in 2012, 2014 and 2015.

“The guy was doing incredible things for four or five years,” T.J. told Pivot, “and I think he can still play at a high level. I think I’m too early in my career to compare myself to him.”

Since joining the Cardinals, J.J. hasn’t experienced the same level of success as he had in Houston, partially due to injuries that kept him off the filed for most of last season, but he has much to look forward to in the coming months — his wife, Kealia Watt, is pregnant withtheir first child together.

“Could not be more excited. ❤️💙,” J.J. wrote in a JuneInstagrampost.

Earlier this year J.J. celebrated the couple’s second wedding anniversary with a message on Instagram.

“I don’t know where or how this tradition started, but every time we get dressed up for an event or go somewhere together, we take a photo in the elevator. It’s a 10 second thing that captures a moment for us to remember as we look back at all the photos and reminisce on the nights and events that have passed,” hewrotealongside a mirror selfie of the pair.

RELATED VIDEO: Brittany Mahomes Shows Sterling Spilling Cereal as Patrick Teases She’s ‘Just Like Her Momma’

“Through 2 years of marriage, many memories have already been created, with so many more on the horizon. (It’s also a way for me to look exponential better because you bring the 🔥 every time.) Happy Anniversary@kealiamaeI love you,” he added.

In July,T.J. married soccer star Dani Rhodesin Cabo San Lucas. Heannounced his engagementto Rhodes last year.

source: people.com