Former Badgers DE JJ Watt becomes Mount Rushmore of NFL’s Houston Texans

Former Wisconsin defensive end JJ Watt was included in the NFL’s Mount Rushmore for the Houston Texans last week.

The 10-year Texan earned a spot alongside former All-Pros Duane Brown (LT) and DeAndre Hopkins (WR) and 2024 Hall of Famer Andre Johnson (WR). Unlike other long-standing NFL franchises, the Texans’ first season took place in 2002, naturally inviting a younger generation of players to the franchise’s upper echelon.

In three years as a Badger, Watt earned the Lott IMPACT Trophy, team MVP and consensus first-team All-Big Ten at defensive end. As a senior, he also led his team in TFLs, sacks, quarterback hurries, forced fumbles and blocked kicks.

He finished his college tenure third in UW history with four career blocked kicks, something he would put to good use as an elite NFL defender.

AFC South pic.twitter.com/zfOduW96RW

– NFL Nerd (@NerdingonNFL) June 23, 2024

The Houston Texans selected the Pewaukee, Wisconsin native with the 11th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Watt made a good impression and immediately wreaked havoc on opposing offenses as a rusher.

The 6-foot-6, 288-pounder recorded a career-high 20.5 sacks and 39 TFLs en route to his first career AP Defensive Player of the Year award in just his second season in the NFL.

Watt ultimately earned three Defensive Player of the Year awards, five All-Pro selections and a spot on the Hall of Fame’s All-2010 team as a professional.

The former Badger hung up his cleats in 2022 after the second of his two seasons in Arizona. He and seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2027.