'They Booed Me!' J.J. Watt Reveals Moment He Won Over Houston Texans Fans
On April 28, 2011, the Houston Texans took a chance on University of Wisconsin defensive end J.J. Watt with their 11th overall pick in the NFL Draft, hoping he'd make an immediate impact.
The 34-year-old explained on Texans Radio on Friday that he tried to build a relationship with Texans fans early, but revealed that it wasn't easy, as his numbers from his rookie season were nowhere near his future yearly stats.
"They might have booed me a little bit at the beginning, as we didn't have the greatest relationship out of the gate," Watt said. "But I think that made the story even better because, instead of discouraging me, it only made me want to earn their respect even more."
Watt's relationship with the city of Houston skyrocketed during his second season, as he logged 20.5 sacks and 39 tackles for loss - both were the most in the league - en route to his first NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.
Watt's mutual love with the city of Houston only went up from there, as he finished his career with three Defensive Player of the Year awards, five First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl appearances and became the Texans' all-time sacks and forced fumbles leader.
Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99)
© Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Fast forward to today, Watt will be inducted into the Texans Ring of Honor on Sunday, as his Hall of Fame-worthy accolades were far beyond what some expected of him.
Watt explained that back at the start of his time here, he and his family have been staying as guests in a relative stranger's home. However, the hosts originally weren't aware that the Watts were the ones that rented out their home. What happened next continued to prove that Houston will always be home for Watt.
"They found out (it was me) just before I got in and they had my favorite barbecue sitting on the countertop and toys for my son," Watt said. "People don't do that in other cities. People here are family and I'm very thankful for that."
As previously mentioned, Watt will be inducted into the Ring of Honor during the Texans' Week 4 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The game will also feature his brother, 2021 Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt, who might leave the locker room early during halftime to watch the ceremony.
