Houston Texans 

2 NRG Park 
Houston, Texas 77054 
 

Backgrounder 
For Immediate Release For More Information, Contact 
Sept. 12, 2017 Zoe’ Hightower 
Media Consultant 
832.667.2002 
Fanfeedback.houstontexans.com 
 
Justin James (J.J.) Watt 
 
Justin Watt, better known as J.J. Watt, is an American football defensive end for the 
Houston Texans of the National Football League. Watt, who is known as one of the greatest 
defensive ends in the NFL, is also being recognized for his philanthropic efforts. 
 
Watt was born March 22, 1989 in Waukesha, Wisconsin. He grew up playing ice hockey for 
teams traveling to Canada and Germany, but gave it up when weekly games were causing a strain on 
time and finances. In high school, Watt was a four-year letter-winner for football and went on to 
play collegiate football for Central Michigan University under the leadership of Butch Jones. After 
totaling 14 games, Watt gave up his starting spot to walk-on at the University of Michigan, from 
where he was drafted in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft. 
 
Since being in the NFL, Watt has put in work on and off the field. He is the president and 
founder of the Justin J. Watt Foundation, which is a charity organization that provides after-school 
opportunities for children in various communities, to get them involved in athletics and in a safe 
environment. More recently, he has been gaining attention for raising over $37 million, from which 
$100,000 was a personal donation, to help Houston, TX recover from Hurricane Harvey, surpassing 
the initial goal of $200,000. 
 
Watt told ABC News that he couldn’t physically help out the affected, but still wanted to 
help put in some way. He has been quoted saying “When things look the bleakest, humanity steps 
up for each other.” 
 
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