Amid TJ Watt's lung injury, here's everything to know about his wife, Dani Watt, and their love story.
Trent Jordan 'TJ' Watt is one of the most significant players in the defense line of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Recently, the National Football League star's health has been a matter of concern for the fans after the team announced that T.J. experienced discomfort in his lungs during practice. As more updates are awaited on his condition amid recent hospitalisation, here's everything to know about his wife, Dani Watt, and the couple's love story.
Dani Watt and TJ are both from Wisconsin. They also went to the same University of Wisconsin-Madison. While TJ played as a tight end for the Wisconsin Badgers, Dani represented the college as a soccer player. In 2019, she was also acclaimed as the Big Ten Forward of the Year and received many accolades. She graduated from the college in 2020, and a year later, TJ proposed to her, and she said yes.
After her college soccer days, Dani also made a career out of the game. In 2020, she played for the Chicago Red Stars for a season. Then she went on to sign with a professional soccer team in Iceland. Dani and TJ certainly bonded over their athleticism, as apart from soccer, his wife is also quite skilled in basketball. Dani was a lead scorer in basketball in Wisconsin in her junior and senior years. However, in 2023, she took retirement from professional soccer. Taking to her Instagram, Dani announced:
"This was not an easy decision for me, but my body and my mind are ready and excited for another chapter. This game introduced me to so many amazing people, took me to places around the world that I could only dream of, and taught me how to overcome adversity."
Dani and TJ got engaged in 2021 after dating for nearly five years. The following year, they tied the knot in Mexico. Both the athletes' teammates were present at the ceremony. The couple also became parents in 2025, welcoming their baby girl, Blakely Marie Watt, this year. Announcing her wedding to TJ, she had penned on her social media:
"When I was a little girl I never thought I'd find someone special enough to ever change my last name... But I found him and couldn't be happier to share a name with the man of my dreams."
On December 11, 2025, the Steelers announced that TJ had suffered a lung injury during practice. He was also hospitalised. Worried fans had been waiting for an update since then. The official statement by the team stated that he had complained of discomfort and was being medically evaluated. TJ's presence during the upcoming game against Miami is also in doubt.
Coach Mike Tomlin provided more information on TJ's current health status and said that he was 'comfortable' now. However, the coach also does not have more details on the linebacker's lung issue and the diagnosis, if any. Coach Tomlin also shared that he had no knowledge of whether, prior to experiencing issues, TJ had been injured or not. The Steelers coach was quoted as saying:
“I’m a little bit cautious about what I say because I’m not a medical expert, but, to make a long story short, he was experiencing some discomfort when he was at the facility yesterday. So, we took him to the doctors and they’re going through some procedures. He stayed overnight in the hospital. He has a lung situation that’s being addressed. He and I communicated last night. He was comfortable and that’s all I have really at this point...I just don’t have a lot as I stand here today.”
What are your thoughts on TJ Watt and Dani Watt's love story? Let us know.
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