J.J. Watt, former Houston Texans star, is being inducted into the Houston Sports Hall of Fame, joining the ranks of Houston’s legendary athletes.
HOUSTON — Houston Texans legend Justin James “J.J.” Watt will be inducted into the Houston Sports Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026, the Harris County–Houston Sports Authority announced.
Watt is the first of three honorees who will be revealed during the 2026 Houston Sports Hall of Fame Announcement Tour presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods.
Watt was surprised with the announcement at a Men in Blazers Media Network event in Houston ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
The former Texans star spent 10 seasons in Houston after being selected 11th overall in the 2011 NFL Draft. He became one of the most dominant defensive players in the league and the face of the franchise.
Watt set the Texans’ franchise record with 101 sacks and finished his 12-year NFL career with 114.5 sacks. He is also the only player in NFL history with multiple 20-plus sack seasons, recording 20.5 sacks in both 2012 and 2015.
During his career, Watt earned three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2012, 2014 and 2015. He was also selected to five Pro Bowls and named First-Team All-Pro five times.
Watt was inducted into the Texans Ring of Honor in 2023.
Beyond football, Watt made a lasting impact on the Houston community. After Hurricane Harvey, he led a fundraising campaign that raised more than $41 million for relief efforts, which helped earn him the 2017 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award.
“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, in a news release. “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.”
Watt will be formally honored in the fall of 2026 along with two additional members of the Houston Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
Who is in the Houston Sports Hall of Fame?
Football: Earl Campbell (Oilers), Kenny Houston (Oilers), Andre Ware (UH/Heisman), Warren Moon, Dan Pastorini, Curley Culp.
Basketball: Hakeem Olajuwon (Rockets/UH), Clyde Drexler (Rockets/UH), Sheryl Swoopes (Comets), Rudy Tomjanovich (Rockets), Yao Ming, Calvin Murphy, Cynthia Cooper.
Baseball: Nolan Ryan (Astros), Roger Clemens (Astros), Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell, Jose Altuve.
Other Sports/Contributors: Jack Burke Jr. (Golf), Carl Lewis (Track/UH), Mary Lou Retton (Gymnastics), George Foreman (Boxing), Van Chancellor (Comets Coach).
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