JJ Watt joins Houston Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Men in Blazers Podcast was on the town counting down the times to the FIFA 2026 World Cup and welcomed Houston legends all through the night. The Harris County Houston Sports Hall of Fame committee was additionally readily available to welcome Houston Texans NFL, legend JJ Watt to the Houston Sports Hall of Fame class of 2026.
HOUSTON, Texas – The Harris County-Houston Sports Authority (HCHSA) introduced Wednesday that former Houston Texans defensive finish J.J. Watt has been chosen as the primary member of the Houston Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
The shock announcement befell throughout a stay “Men in Blazers” occasion at Rice University’s Brockman Hall for Opera.
The occasion, titled “99 Days Out,” served as a countdown to the FIFA 2026 World Cup and featured Watt as a particular visitor to focus on his ardour for soccer and his possession stake in Burnley F.C.
What they’re saying:
“J.J. Watt represents everything that makes Houston sports special: excellence, toughness, heart, and an unwavering commitment to this community,” stated Ryan Walsh, CEO of the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority.
“From the moment he arrived, J.J. embraced Houston and Houston embraced him. His legacy lives in the culture he helped build and the way he showed up for this city when it mattered most.”
A Defensive Icon
JJ Watt recovers a fumble in win vs Chiefs
Watt, the eleventh general choose within the 2011 NFL Draft, spent 10 seasons in Houston, changing into essentially the most dominant defensive drive in franchise historical past. His on-field accolades embody:
- Three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2012, 2014, 2015).
- Five-time First-Team All-Pro and 5 Pro Bowl picks.
- 101.0 sacks with the Texans (a franchise file) and 114.5 profession sacks.
- The solely participant in NFL historical past to file two seasons with 20-plus sacks.
Legacy Beyond the Gridiron
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – FEBRUARY 04: J.J. Watt with the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award on the sector prior to Super Bowl LII on February 4, 2018, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire through Getty Images)
In 2017, following the devastation of Hurricane Harvey, Watt launched a fundraising marketing campaign that in the end raised greater than $41 million for reduction efforts.
His philanthropic management earned him the 2017 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award.
Watt is already a member of the Houston Texans Ring of Honor. He will grow to be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2028.
Houston Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Watt is the primary of three honorees to be revealed for the Class of 2026.
The remaining members of the category will likely be introduced later this 12 months as half of the HCHSA’s annual announcement tour.
The formal induction ceremony is scheduled to happen within the fall of 2026.
About the Houston Sports Hall of Fame:
The Houston Sports Hall of Fame was created in 2017 to honor the figures who’ve made a big impression on the Houston sports activities panorama.
Past inductees embody Hakeem Olajuwon, Nolan Ryan, Earl Campbell, and Andre Johnson.