Texans Legend and Three-Time Defensive Player of the Year Headlines Class of 2026
HOUSTON, TX — The Sports Authority Foundation is proud to announce that Houston Texans legend Justin James “JJ” Watt has been selected as the first member of the Houston Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
Watt will be the first of three honorees revealed during the 2026 Houston Sports Hall of Fame Announcement Tour, presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods.
Drafted 11th overall by the Houston Texans in the 2011 NFL Draft, Watt immediately established himself as one of the most dominant defensive players in the league. As a rookie, he started all 16 games, recording 56 tackles (49 solo), 5.5 sacks, and two fumble recoveries, setting the foundation for a historic career.
Watt spent 10 seasons in Houston, becoming the face of the franchise and a symbol of resilience for the city. He set the Texans’ franchise record with 101.0 sacks and finished his 12-year NFL career with 114.5 sacks, ranking among the most prolific pass rushers of his era. The only player in NFL history with multiple 20+ sack seasons, Watt recorded 20.5 sacks in both 2012 and 2015.
His dominance earned him three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards (2012, 2014, 2015), five Pro Bowl selections, and five First-Team All-Pro honors.
Watt’s career was defined not only by elite production, but by perseverance. He overcame multiple season-ending injuries to return repeatedly to elite form, famously playing through severe injuries and embodying his personal motto: Dream Big, Work Hard. That resilience made him more than a football player; it made him a source of pride and strength for Houston.
“JJ Watt represents everything that makes Houston sports special: excellence, toughness, heart, and an unwavering commitment to this community,” said Ryan Walsh, CEO of the Harris County–Houston Sports Authority and Sports Authority Foundation. “From the moment he arrived as a young player from Wisconsin, JJ embraced Houston and Houston embraced him. He often says this city became family to him, and that bond was evident in everything he did — on the field, in the locker room, and across the community. His legacy extends far beyond statistics. It lives in the culture he helped build and the way he showed up for Houston when it mattered most.”
A native of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, Watt’s path to NFL legend was anything but conventional. His first love was hockey, a sport he began playing at the age of three. But by the time he was seven years old, Watt had already set his sights on football. In a local newspaper interview, he announced his dream “to be a great player, like Reggie White.”
After beginning his collegiate career at Central Michigan, he transferred to the University of Wisconsin, where he emerged as one of the top defensive players in the country. In 2010, he earned the Lott IMPACT Trophy, First-Team All-American honors, First-Team All-Big Ten recognition, Academic All-Big Ten honors, and team MVP honors before declaring early for the NFL Draft. He was also a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award, given annually to college football’s top defensive end.
In addition to his remarkable achievements on the field, Watt’s commitment to service has left an indelible mark on the Houston community. In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, he spearheaded a fundraising campaign that raised more than $41 million for relief efforts, including a personal $100,000 donation. His leadership during one of the city’s most difficult moments earned him 2017 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year honors.
In 2010, Watt established the Justin J. Watt Foundation to support middle school students through after-school athletics programs. The foundation serves youth primarily in Texas and Wisconsin and reflects Watt’s belief in giving young people opportunities to succeed through teamwork, perseverance, and hard work.
Inducted into the Houston Texans Ring of Honor, Watt’s legacy is defined by dominance, determination, and unwavering commitment to Houston. He will become eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2028.
Watt will be formally honored in the Fall of 2026 alongside two additional distinguished members of the Class of 2026.
About the Harris County–Houston Sports Authority and Sports Authority Foundation
The Harris County–Houston Sports Authority (HCHSA), founded in 1997, is responsible for servicing the debt of the world-class sports venues it was created to build and ensuring their long-term sustainability. In support of this core mission, HCHSA leads the charge in attracting major sporting events to Houston and promoting our region as a home for all sports-related activities. This ultimately results in enhancing our economic development, improving the quality of life for our residents, and reinforcing Houston and Harris County as a premier destination for marquee sporting events. Its 501(c)(3) arm, the Sports Authority Foundation, manages the community engagement and legacy programs tied to major events, including FIFA World Cup 26™ in Houston, through Impact Houston 26. Learn more at Harris County–Houston Sports Authority and Sports Authority Foundation.
