J.J. Watt is a former American football player. J.J. Watt is a multiple-time AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He played in the NFL for 12 seasons, primarily with the Houston Texans, where he holds the Texans' franchise records for sacks and forced fumbles. Watt also caught three touchdown passes in the 2014 season and was named Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year in 2017.