Super Bowl LVII Radio Row: TJ Watt
Sports Seriously sits down with TJ Watt at Super Bowl LVII Radio Row.
USA TODAY
J.J. Watt couldn’t stay away from football for long.
Well, not the American kind of football.
The former star NFL defensive end and future Hall of Famer who retired following the 2022 season isn’t making a NFL comeback. Instead, he and wife Kealia Watt — who played in the National Women’s Soccer League from 2014-2021 and also appeared with the U.S. women’s national team — have together invested in Burnley FC, an English soccer team that earned promotion to the English Premier League for 2023.
Kealia Watt will advise the Burnley FC women’s team, the club said in a statement.
“In the US, I’ve seen the NWSL grow into something really incredible, and we’d love to be a part of growing the women’s team here and be a part of their journey,” she said in a release announcing the couple’s involvement.
Earlier this season, the Watts traveled to Turf Moor, the club’s home since 1883, and watched the Clarets defeat Wigan Athletic 3-0.
“When you invest in a club that’s been around since 1882, you must have great respect for its history and tradition,” the Watts said in a statement. “We understand that not only are we investing in the squad and manager, we’re investing in the town and its people. We take that responsibility very seriously and intend to work hard in earning their trust and support.”
In a video J.J. Watt posted to social media, the former American football star said “we don’t have ‘buy an entire European club kind of money.’ “
“We’re more along the lines of minority investment, but massive emotional investment,” he said.
Follow Chris Bumbaca on Twitter @BOOMbaca.
