Meet T.J. Watt's Wife, Dani Watt, Former Soccer Player Tied The Knot With The NFL Star In Mexico
T.J. Watt's team is playing against the New York Jets on August 21, 2026 (ET). The NFL star has been married to Dani Watt since 2022.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleT.J. Watt was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft after playing at Wisconsin. He quickly emerged as an elite edge rusher, earning Pro Bowl honors in his second season. Watt won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 after tying the single-season sack record with 22.5.
A seven-time Pro Bowler and four-time First-Team All-Pro, he leads Pittsburgh’s defense with consistent pressure, forced fumbles, and tackles for loss. T.J. is in the headlines right now as his team is facing the New York Jets on August 21, 2026 (ET). Notably, his career and personal life have come into the limelight. For the unversed, he has been married to Dani Watt since 2022.
Dani Watt is a former soccer player
Before becoming part of one of football’s most well-known families, Dani Watt built her own name in sports. She was raised in Waukesha, Wisconsin, and went to Waukesha West High School. There she stood out in two sports.
On the basketball court, she was a team captain for both her junior and senior seasons, and by graduation she had scored over 1,000 points, setting the school’s all-time scoring mark at the time. She also played soccer and was even selected to her school’s prom court.
Dani Watt later enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she studied life sciences communication and graduated in December 2020. As a Badger soccer player, she made a name for herself quickly. The highlight came in 2019 when she was voted Big Ten Forward of the Year and landed on the All-America Second Team. She also earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition three times during her college career.
After Wisconsin, Dani turned pro. She joined the Chicago Red Stars for the 2020 NWSL season. The next year she headed overseas to Iceland, signing with Thróttur Reykjavík. While playing there, she posted about life abroad, including trips with her family members.
In February 2023, she announced she was stepping away from soccer. She revealed on Instagram that the decision was not easy, but she felt ready physically and mentally for what came next. She credited the sport with introducing her to amazing people, letting her travel the world, and teaching her how to push through tough moments.
There’s also a family link through soccer. Before Dani and Kealia Ohai became sisters-in-law, they were teammates on the Chicago Red Stars. Ohai married JJ Watt in 2020. Dani’s family members also include two brothers, Drew and Dylan.
T.J. Watt and Dani Watt have been married for four years
T.J. Watt and Dani Watt met back in 2016 while both were athletes at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. T.J. was suiting up for the Badgers football team, and she was competing as a forward on the women’s soccer squad.
Dani earned Big Ten recognition for her play on the field. Being student-athletes at the same time gave them a lot in common, and that’s what first brought them together. From there, their relationship kept growing over the years. After about five years together, T.J. Watt popped the question in July 2021. He shared the news on Instagram with the caption that can be read as:
“I am the luckiest man in the world.”
Dani answered with her own post by writing ‘Yes’ three times. A year later, in July 2022, they tied the knot. The wedding was held in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and it was a family affair. T.J.’s brothers were there, including J.J. The couple later welcomed their first child. Their daughter, Blakely Marie Watt, was born on March 10, 2025, and the duo even shared the news on Instagram.
What are your thoughts about Dani’s career and her relationship with T.J. Watt? Let us know.
PC: tjwatt90/Instagram
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