Derek Watt Siblings: All About J.J. and T.J. Watt

Derek John Watt, born on November 7, 1992, in Waukesha, Wisconsin, emerged as a steadfast presence in the National Football League as a fullback.

Growing up in the close-knit community of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, alongside his parents, John, a dedicated firefighter, and Connie, a business leader in building operations, Derek was immersed in an environment that prized hard work, resilience, and unyielding support.

From a young age, football became more than a game for him; it was a shared passion that bonded him with his siblings, forging a legacy of excellence on the gridiron.

His path to the NFL was marked by perseverance, transitioning from high school stardom at Pewaukee High School, where he earned first-team all-state honors on both sides of the ball, to a collegiate career at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Drafted in the sixth round by the San Diego Chargers in 2016, Derek’s professional tenure spanned seven seasons, during which he became known not just for his on-field tenacity but for his role in the historic Watt family dynasty, where all three brothers donned NFL uniforms.

Retiring in March 2024 at age 31, Derek reflected on a career that amassed 110 games, lifelong friendships, and the rare privilege of sharing the field with his brothers.

Siblings

Derek has two siblings, J.J. and T.J. Watt, forming a trio that redefined sibling rivalry into collective triumph in the NFL.

As the middle child, Derek often found himself bridging the gap between his older brother J.J., born March 22, 1989, a towering defensive end whose career epitomized dominance and durability, and his younger brother T.J., born October 2, 1994, a relentless outside linebacker whose explosive pass-rushing has terrorized quarterbacks league-wide.

J.J., the trailblazer, was drafted first overall by the Houston Texans in 2011 after starring at Wisconsin, where he transitioned from tight end to defensive lineman, amassing accolades that included three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards and a surefire Hall of Fame induction upon his 2023 retirement; now a CBS Sports analyst and philanthropist through his J.J. Watt Foundation, which has raised millions for youth sports, he remains the family’s guiding light, often crediting their shared roots for his success.

T.J., the firebrand, followed in 2017 as the 30th overall pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he has shattered records with 96.5 career sacks, second only to Reggie White’s pace, and claimed his own Defensive Player of the Year honor in 2021, alongside five finalist nods, all while studying retailing at Wisconsin and overcoming early knee injuries that tested his resolve.

Career

Watt’s NFL odyssey began in earnest on April 30, 2016, when the San Diego Chargers selected him 198th overall in the sixth round, a pick that belied the blue-collar reliability he would bring to a position often undervalued in the modern game.

Transitioning seamlessly from his blocking duties at Wisconsin, where he appeared in 47 games, starting 24, and earned Academic All-Big Ten honors four times, Derek debuted in Week 1 of the 2016 season, quickly carving out a niche on special teams and as a lead blocker for running backs like Melvin Gordon, whom he had protected in college.

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His first four years in Los Angeles were a masterclass in consistency amid transition: the Chargers relocated to the city in 2017, and Derek suited up for 61 games, logging over 1,000 special teams snaps while contributing modestly on offense with 18 rushes for 65 yards and nine receptions for 22 yards.

A highlight came in 2019, his final Chargers campaign, when he broke through for his lone rushing touchdown, a gritty one-yard plunge against the Jacksonville Jaguars, capping a season of 16 appearances that showcased his growing comfort in Philip Rivers’ high-octane attack.

Eager for a fresh chapter and the chance to join kin, Derek inked a three-year, $9.75 million contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers on March 26, 2020, instantly linking him with brother T.J. and injecting family electricity into the Steel City.

His Steelers tenure amplified his special teams prowess, highlighted by a Week 2 blocked punt against the Denver Broncos that sealed a safety and an 11-6 victory, while he added two more rushing scores in 2021, including a memorable one-yard burst in a playoff-clinching win over the Cleveland Browns, en route to 49 games, 11 rushes for 31 yards, and seven receptions for nine yards overall in Pittsburgh.

Injuries nagged in 2022, limiting him to nine outings, but his 286 average special teams snaps per season underscored his value as a core coverage gunner and blocker in a run-heavy scheme under coordinators Randy Fichtner and Matt Canada.

Over 110 career games, Derek tallied 29 rushes for 96 yards and three touchdowns, plus 16 receptions for 31 yards, but his true ledger lies in the intangibles: igniting family matchups like the 2020 “Watt Bros. Bowl” against J.J.’s Texans and fostering the unity that propelled T.J.’s defenses.

Accolades

At the collegiate level with the Wisconsin Badgers, Derek’s reliability earned him a quartet of Academic All-Big Ten selections from 2012 to 2015, a testament to his balance of on-field ferocity and off-field discipline, culminating in his 2015 induction into the National Football Foundation’s Hampshire Honor Society for scholarly-athletic merit; that same year, he was instrumental in a senior class that boasted a 38-16 record, a Big Ten championship in 2012, and the 2014 West Division title, all while blocking for Melvin Gordon’s record-shattering 2,587 rushing yards.

High school honors at Pewaukee laid the groundwork, where as a senior he claimed AP Wisconsin Player of the Year, first-team all-state at linebacker, honorable mention as a running back, Woodland Conference Player of the Year on both sides, Waukesha County Player of the Year, and all-region nods, stats that included 1,506 rushing yards, 25 touchdowns, 80 tackles, and special teams flair like a punt return score.

In the NFL, individual trophies proved elusive for a fullback in an era favoring spread schemes, yet Derek’s impact resonated through team successes: his 2019 Chargers touchdown fueled a 9-7 campaign with a wild-card berth, and his 2020-2022 Steelers stretch coincided with three straight playoff appearances, including a 2021 divisional run where his blocking and special teams acumen supported T.J.’s Defensive Player of the Year charge.

Subtler recognitions abound, from his 2024 guest speaker role at the Milwaukee High School Sports Awards, sharing wisdom amid honors like Athlete of the Year presentations, to the familial echoes in J.J. and T.J.’s award wins, where Derek’s supportive presence amplified their triumphs, as seen in his proud tweet during T.J.’s 2021 DPOY ceremony.