Who is TJ Watt’s wife? All about Dani Watt

TJ Watt is best known as one of three brothers to play in the NFL, but he’s also a husband and father at home.

The Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker married Dani Watt (née Rose) in July 2022 after six years of dating. The two first met as student athletes at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and got engaged in 2021.

“When I was little, I never thought I would find someone special enough to change my last name…but I found him and couldn’t be happier to share my name with the person of my dreams,” Dani wrote on Instagram after the wedding.

In March 2025, TJ and Dani announced the birth of their first child, daughter Blakely.

Who is TJ Watt’s wife? Here’s everything you need to know about Dani Watt.

she grew up in wisconsin

Dani grew up in Waukesha, Wisconsin and attended Waukesha West High School. She was selected for her school’s prom court and played in both basketball and soccer.

Dani attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in December 2020 with a degree in Life Sciences Communication.

Dani, a student athlete, played soccer in college. In 2019, she was named Big Ten Forward of the Year and earned All-America Second Team honors.

Dani was also a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection.

She is a former professional soccer player

In 2020, Dani played one season with the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women’s Soccer League. The following year, she signed with Thróttur Reykjavík, an Icelandic professional team.

While in Iceland, she posted photos of herself exploring the country, including photos from trips where her family came to visit her.

Dani retired from football in February 2023.

“This was not an easy decision for me, but my body and mind are ready and excited for the next chapter,” she wrote on Instagram. “This game has introduced me to so many amazing people, taken me to places around the world I could only dream of, and taught me how to overcome adversity.”

Dani played soccer with her stepsister

Before they became stepsisters, Dani played for the Chicago Red Stars with Kealia Ojai, who married JJ Watt in 2020.

When Dani announced her engagement to TJ on Instagram in 2021, Ohai commented, “So happy ❤️.”

she also played basketball

Dani not only played soccer in high school, but was also a great basketball athlete. She was the captain of the basketball team in both middle school and high school.

In his final season, he scored over 1,000 points and held the high school’s all-time scoring record at the time.

“Dani is not only one of the best soccer players in the state, but also the leading scorer in basketball in the state of Wisconsin,” Wisconsin State University women’s soccer head coach Paula Wilkins previously said.

she has two brothers

Dani has two brothers, Drew and Dylan. On Instagram, she described her brother Drew as her “best friend and brother.”

She also calls her brother Dylan “the best little brother a sister could ask for.” In her Instagram caption, she wrote, “You have the biggest heart of anyone I know and I’m so proud of who you are.”

When Dani and TJ got married, Dylan returned the praise, jokingly thanking her for making him the “most beautiful bridesmaid.”

She married TJ in Mexico

After getting engaged in 2021, the couple tied the knot in July 2022 in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. In addition to Dani’s football teammates from throughout his career, his Pittsburgh Steelers teammates, including his brother Derek Watt, were in attendance.

Snapshots from their big day revealed ocean views and a lively dance floor. Even Dani and TJ’s initials were projected onto a nearby cliff.

Dani and TJ have a daughter

TJ and Dani are parents. The couple announced that they are expecting their first child, daughter Blakely Marie Watt, in March 2025.

“It’s worth the wait,” the couple captioned a joint Instagram post, which featured several adorable photos of their newborn baby girl.