JJ Watt’s wife is Kealia Ohai Watt, a former professional soccer player who competed in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). The couple married in the Bahamas on February 15, 2020, and have two sons, Koa James Watt and Niko Benjamin Watt. Watt has since retired from professional football and works in sports broadcasting, while the couple also share an investment interest in English football club Burnley FC.
Introduction
When readers search for JJ Watt wife, they are usually looking for information about Kealia Ohai Watt, the former professional soccer player who married the retired NFL defensive end in 2020. Their relationship brings together two accomplished athletes whose careers have connected American football, women’s soccer and the wider sports business world.
J.J. Watt and Kealia married on February 15, 2020, in the Bahamas. They have two sons: Koa James, born in October 2022, and Niko Benjamin, born on June 14, 2025. The couple announced Niko’s arrival publicly later that month.
Watt is widely recognized for his years with the Houston Texans and his achievements as one of the NFL’s leading defensive players. Kealia built her own career in professional soccer, playing for the Houston Dash and Chicago Red Stars. Their story is therefore not simply about the spouse of a famous football player; it is also about two athletes with careers and interests of their own.
Recent coverage continues to connect the couple with Houston’s sports community. On October 15, 2026, the Houston Chronicle reported on Watt’s induction into the Houston Sports Hall of Fame, noting that Kealia accompanied him at the ceremony.
What Happened? JJ Watt and Kealia Watt’s Marriage and Family
J.J. Watt and Kealia Ohai became husband and wife in February 2020 after several years of dating. Their wedding took place in the Bahamas, and Watt shared his happiness publicly the following day. The marriage was reported by ABC News on February 16, 2020.
The couple’s family has since grown. They welcomed their first son, Koa James Watt, on October 23, 2022. The Arizona Cardinals’ official website documented the birth in its coverage of Watt’s 2022 season.
In February 2025, the couple announced that they were expecting their second child. The Houston Texans published a report about the announcement, which Watt shared on social media. On June 25, 2025, People reported that the couple had welcomed their second son, Niko Benjamin Watt, who was born on June 14.
These developments help answer the most common questions about JJ Watt’s wife: Kealia is his spouse, they have been married since 2020, and they are parents to two sons.
Key Details About JJ Watt’s Wife
Full name: Kealia Mae Ohai Watt
Known as: Kealia Watt; formerly Kealia Ohai
Born: January 31, 1992
Hometown: Draper, Utah, United States
Profession: Former professional soccer player
Husband: J.J. Watt
Wedding date: February 15, 2020
Children: Two sons, Koa James and Niko Benjamin.
Other important facts about the couple include:
- Engagement: J.J. Watt announced his engagement to Kealia in May 2019.
- Wedding location: The Bahamas, where they married in February 2020.
- First child: Koa James Watt was born in October 2022.
- Second child: Niko Benjamin Watt was born on June 14, 2025.
- Football investment: J.J. and Kealia are investors and co-owners of Burnley Football Club in England.
Background: Who Is Kealia Ohai Watt?
Kealia Watt is more than the wife of a famous NFL player. Before and during her relationship with J.J., she developed a professional soccer career in the United States.
Her early life and college soccer career
Kealia Mae Ohai was born on January 31, 1992, in Draper, Utah. She played soccer at the University of North Carolina, where she was part of the Tar Heels team that won the 2012 NCAA Division I women’s soccer championship. She later moved into professional soccer and became known for her work as a forward.
Her college success helped establish her as a promising player before she entered the National Women’s Soccer League. In 2014, the Houston Dash selected her with the second overall pick in the NWSL Draft. She went on to play for the Dash before joining the Chicago Red Stars.
Her professional soccer career
Kealia spent much of her professional career with the Houston Dash, making her a familiar figure to soccer fans in Houston. Her career later took her to Chicago, where she played for the Chicago Red Stars.
She also represented the United States at the international level. U.S. Soccer records list her among the players who competed for the U.S. women’s national team, including appearances in 2016. One notable moment came when she scored 48 seconds after entering a match against Switzerland, setting a record for the fastest goal on a U.S. women’s national team debut at that time, according to U.S. Soccer.
Her playing career is an important part of her public identity. Although searches often focus on her marriage, Kealia has her own achievements in college, professional and international soccer.
How Did JJ Watt and Kealia Meet?
J.J. Watt and Kealia Ohai were introduced through a family connection. Watt’s former Houston Texans teammate Brian Cushing is married to Megan Cushing, Kealia’s older sister. That connection brought the two athletes into the same social circle.
Their relationship developed over several years before they became engaged. In May 2019, Watt publicly announced the engagement, sharing his excitement about the milestone. The couple married the following year, on February 15, 2020, in the Bahamas.
Their relationship also involved the practical challenges of two professional sports careers. Kealia’s soccer commitments and Watt’s NFL schedule meant that their work often involved travel and demanding seasons. During a 2020 press conference published by the Houston Texans, Watt discussed spending time with his wife after their marriage, noting that her soccer season would normally have kept them apart for part of the year.
That comment offers a useful glimpse into their early married life without requiring speculation about their private relationship.
JJ Watt and Kealia Watt’s Children
J.J. and Kealia are parents to two sons. The couple have shared key family milestones publicly, while keeping many details of their day-to-day life private.
Koa James Watt
Their first son, Koa James Watt, was born on October 23, 2022. His birth was reported during J.J. Watt’s final NFL season, when he was playing for the Arizona Cardinals. The team’s official website referred to Koa’s birth in a report on Watt’s performance that season.
Koa’s arrival marked a major new chapter for the couple as they balanced professional commitments with becoming parents.
Niko Benjamin Watt
The couple announced in February 2025 that they were expecting another child. J.J. shared family photographs on social media alongside a message about welcoming a new addition to their lives. The Houston Texans reported the announcement on February 4, 2025.
Their second son, Niko Benjamin Watt, was born on June 14, 2025. The couple later shared the news publicly, and People reported their announcement on June 25, 2025.
As of October 2026, the latest reporting reviewed for this article identifies Koa and Niko as their two children. There is no verified announcement in the sources reviewed indicating that they have welcomed another child.
What Officials and Organizations Have Said
The strongest public information about the couple comes from their own announcements and established sports organizations.
The Houston Texans reported J.J. and Kealia’s second-pregnancy announcement in February 2025, reproducing the message Watt had shared publicly. The report also noted the couple’s continued connection to Houston despite the end of Watt’s playing career with the Texans.
U.S. Soccer’s player profile documents Kealia’s soccer background, while its coverage of the national team provides context for her international career. These sources establish that she was a professional athlete in her own right, not simply a public figure known through her marriage.
Burnley Football Club has also acknowledged the couple’s investment. The club described J.J. and Kealia as investors in its communications and later highlighted their involvement in a tournament featuring Burnley teams.
More recently, the Houston Chronicle reported on October 15, 2026, that Kealia accompanied J.J. at his induction into the Houston Sports Hall of Fame. The coverage described Watt’s continued connection to Houston and his appreciation for the community.
These reports establish their marriage, family milestones and sports-related activities. They do not, however, provide a complete account of their private life, and personal details beyond their public statements should not be assumed.
JJ Watt’s Career After Retirement
J.J. Watt built his reputation as one of the NFL’s standout defensive players, particularly during his years with the Houston Texans. He later played for the Arizona Cardinals before retiring from professional football after the 2022 season.
Retirement did not mean leaving the sport entirely. The Houston Texans reported in February 2025 that Watt was working as an NFL analyst for CBS and making appearances on the Pat McAfee Show.
Watt has also pursued business interests in soccer. In May 2023, Burnley Football Club announced that he and Kealia were becoming investors in the English club. The couple described their interest as both financial and personal, reflecting their enthusiasm for the team and its community.
Their involvement with Burnley is notable because it links Watt’s background in American football with Kealia’s experience in soccer. It also gives them a shared professional interest beyond their individual playing careers.
Why This Matters
Interest in JJ Watt wife reflects more than curiosity about a celebrity marriage. Kealia’s career illustrates how professional athletes can establish their own identities while being part of a high-profile couple.
There are three particularly relevant points for readers.
First, Kealia had a significant soccer career before and during her relationship with Watt. Her college championship, NWSL experience and U.S. national-team appearances are part of her independent sporting record.
Second, the couple’s family milestones have been publicly confirmed. They married in 2020 and welcomed two sons in 2022 and 2025. Keeping those dates straight helps distinguish verified information from online speculation.
Third, their investment in Burnley shows that their connection to sports continues beyond playing. J.J.’s broadcasting work and the couple’s football investment demonstrate ways former athletes can remain involved in the industry after their playing careers end.
Together, these details provide a fuller picture of Kealia Watt than a brief description of her as an NFL star’s spouse.
What Happens Next?
As of October 15, 2026, no new marriage announcement or major family development is necessary to explain the couple’s current status: J.J. and Kealia Watt remain publicly identified as husband and wife, and reports identify them as parents of Koa and Niko.
The latest relevant development in the sources reviewed is J.J. Watt’s induction into the Houston Sports Hall of Fame, covered by the Houston Chronicle on October 15, 2026. Kealia was reported to have attended the ceremony with him.
Watt’s continuing work in sports media and the couple’s investment in Burnley are established parts of their post-playing-career activities. Specific future projects, family plans or changes to their roles should not be treated as confirmed until the couple or relevant organizations announce them.
For readers looking for a concise answer, the key facts remain straightforward: JJ Watt’s wife is Kealia Ohai Watt, they married in 2020, and they have two sons.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is JJ Watt’s wife?
JJ Watt’s wife is Kealia Ohai Watt, a former professional soccer player who played for the Houston Dash and Chicago Red Stars and represented the United States at the international level.
2. When did JJ Watt get married?
J.J. Watt and Kealia Ohai married on February 15, 2020, in the Bahamas. Their wedding was reported by ABC News the following day.
3. How did JJ Watt meet Kealia Ohai?
They were introduced through a family connection. Brian Cushing, Watt’s former Texans teammate, is married to Kealia’s sister, Megan Cushing.
4. How many children do JJ and Kealia Watt have?
They have two sons: Koa James Watt, born in October 2022, and Niko Benjamin Watt, born on June 14, 2025.
5. What does Kealia Watt do?
Kealia is a former professional soccer player. She played in the NWSL for the Houston Dash and Chicago Red Stars and earned appearances for the U.S. women’s national team.
6. Is Kealia Watt still JJ Watt’s wife in 2026?
Yes. The latest reporting reviewed for this article continues to identify Kealia as J.J. Watt’s wife. The Houston Chronicle also reported that she accompanied him at the Houston Sports Hall of Fame ceremony in October 2026.
7. Are JJ Watt and Kealia Watt involved in Burnley FC?
Yes. The couple became investors in Burnley Football Club in 2023. The club has subsequently highlighted their participation in its soccer-related activities.
8. What is JJ Watt doing after retiring from the NFL?
Watt has worked as an NFL analyst for CBS and has appeared on the Pat McAfee Show, according to a February 2025 report from the Houston Texans. He has also remained involved in football through his investment in Burnley FC.