JJ Watt and Kealia Ohai Watt's Relationship Timeline

Mar. 15, 2025

J.J. Watt and Kealia Ohai Watt.Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Former football starJJ Wattand soccer playerKealia Ohai Wattare a power couple in the sports world.

They began datingin early 2016, and although the couple chose to keep their relationship private at first, speculation about their romance started when JJ wore Kealia’s jersey number to a press conference.

The two married over Valentine’s Day weekend in 2020, and in October 2022, JJ and Kealia welcomed their son,Koa James Watt, into the world.

Just a few months after Koa’s birth, the Houston Texans defensive end announced his retirement. Kealia is currently a free agent, who last played for the Chicago Red Stars.

From their wedding day to the birth of their son, here’s a complete timeline of JJ Watt and Kealia Ohai Watt’s relationship.

Early 2016: JJ Watt and Kealia Ohai Watt start dating

Bob Levey/Getty

While the pair did their best to keep their relationship quiet, fans began speculating that the two were an item after JJ wore Kealia’s jersey number to a press conference. The two were also spotted on date nights around the city.

October 2016: Kealia Ohai Watt admits that she and JJ Watt are a couple

As a guest on the2 Up Frontpodcast, Kealia was asked about her relationship with JJ. The soccer starconfirmed that they were a couple, saying, “The rumors are true. We are dating. I’ve known JJ for a really long time, and we’ve always been great friends.” She also added that she was proud of JJ for overcoming a season-ending injury and undergoing back surgery.

January 31, 2017: JJ Watt takes Kealia Ohai Watt on a birthday trip to Mexico

Although Kealia went public with their relationship in October 2016, JJ kept teasing the pair’s romance — he shared a snap of “J” and “K” stockings at his home during the holidays — until Kealia’s birthday in 2017. JJ finally made their relationship public when he took her on a getaway to Mexico to celebrate her birthday andposted a photoof the two cuddling on the beach. Alongside the photo, he wrote, “Happy Birthday beautiful. May this be your best year yet!”

JJ laterspoke to PEOPLEabout Kealia and their trip. “She’s awesome. We just went to Mexico for her birthday and the whole weekend was competition — whether it was ping pong or the weight room,” he said. “She’s extremely competitive which is a ton of fun. She’s incredible.”

As for why he waited nearly a year into the relationship to make it public, he said: “There’s a little bit of that cat and mouse game where everyone wants a photo of us and wants us to confirm it. And I was like, all right, I’ll do it so now we can enjoy ourselves and live happily. And it’s been great.”

March 22, 2017: Kealia Ohai Watt flies to Wisconsin for 12 hours to celebrate JJ Watt’s birthday

Kealia didn’t let distance stand in her way of seeing JJ for his 28th birthday. Although she could only stay for 12 hours, she flew to his cabin in Wisconsin to be with him and celebrate.

Along with a photo of the couple,JJ postedabout the experience on social media, stating, “On her only off day during preseason camp, flew in to spend 12 hours here for my birthday. Such an awesome surprise. Thank you, beautiful.”

May 2019: JJ Watt and Kealia Ohai Watt get engaged

On May 26, 2019, the football athlete announced that he hadproposed to Kealia. The couple shared the news on social media, with JJ writing, “I’m the luckiest man in the world.” He posted four photos from the beachfront proposal, including one that showed him on bended knee in front of Kealia.

As one more surprise to his new fiancée, he flew Kealia’s closest family members and friends to Houston to celebrate their engagement. Among those whojoined the celebrationwere Kealia’s sister, Megan, and brother-in-law, Cushing, along with her former Houston Dash teammateChioma Ubogagu.

August 2019: Kealia Ohai Watt supports JJ Watt at practice

December 2019: JJ Watt and Kealia Ohai Watt admit their relationship is competitive

ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty

At theSports IllustratedAwards, the couple opened up about how their athletic careers affect the dynamic of their relationship. JJtold PEOPLE, “We’re very competitive. Very, very competitive and we like to work out together. She’s much faster than me, [while] I’m slightly stronger.”

Kealia chimed in, “I’ve never heard him admit that. That I’m faster than him. That’s nice!”

JJ jokingly added, “Sometimes. I have a broken leg so that’s why.”

January 2020: Kealia Ohai Watt signs with the Chicago Red Stars

In an Instagram post,Kealia sharedthat she had joined the Chicago Red Stars. Alongside a photo of her in a Chicago Red Stars sweatshirt, she stated, “Extremely excited to be a Red Star!!! Can’t wait to get to work.”

JJcongratulated his fiancée, writing, “Very proud of you and excited for you!! I’ll hold it down here, you dominate in Chicago!!”

He followed with acelebratory photoof himself wearing a Chicago Red Stars hoodie, sweatpants and beanie.

“Let’s go @Kealiamae!!!!” he captioned the picture.

February 15, 2020: JJ Watt and Kealia Ohai Watt get married in the Bahamas

JJ and Kealia tied the knot at The Ocean Club, a Four Seasons Resort, in the Bahamas on Feb. 15, 2020. They wed in the resort’s Versailles Gardens venue, and the couple’s wedding planner, Piper Hatfield,told PEOPLEthat they chose the backdrop because they loved the details of the 12th-century cloister, which was built in France and reassembled.

He postedwedding photos to Instagram, declaring that it was “the best day of my life.” In a sweet and funny nod to his family, he also posted a video of him dancing with his grandmother toRobin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines.”

March 2020: JJ Watt and Kealia Ohai Watt quarantine for their honeymoon

The couple tied the knot just a few weeks before the country went into lockdown. He toldPEOPLE, “Obviously, having a nationwide quarantine right after your wedding isn’t exactly how you planned the honeymoon phase.”

The newlyweds didn’t just relax, though. They trained together at their home in Wisconsin. “It was great, we really enjoyed it. We got a chance to spend a lot of time together, to train and just to be together after our wedding,” he recalled.

In alater interviewon the3rd Hour of Today, JJ called the experience “different but exciting.”

July 9, 2020: JJ Watt and Kealia Ohai Watt return to their respective teams

Kealia Ohai Instagram

As the sports world prepared to return during the ongoing pandemic, JJ and Kealia went to train for their teams in different cities.

Kealia returned to play with the Red Stars when the National Women’s Soccer League moved forward with its season, entering a “quarantine bubble” with her teammates during her league’s Challenge Cup tournament in Utah.

“I haven’t actually seen her in about a month and a half,” JJ toldPEOPLEof his wife. “I’m not allowed to go, not allowed to see her. So, it’s very bittersweet because I love — I absolutely love — watching her play soccer. I love watching her compete. I love watching her play. For me, it’s incredible.”

He also explained his situation, saying, “When I came back down to Houston, they opened the gym I work out at. It’s just me and the trainer. He wears a mask, and we get full workouts in there and then we run on the field,” he continued. “It’s been really good. We really worked hard on my body all off-season long.”

He added he was, however, “missing his wife.”

March 1, 2021: JJ Watt says Kealia Ohai Watt is the better athlete

He went on to say that his wife is better at “speed and agility” drills, but he also added, “I challenge her on strength activities.”

March 2021: JJ Watt signs with the Arizona Cardinals

March 22, 2021: Kealia Ohai Watt calls JJ Watt her favorite person on his 32nd birthday

For JJ’s 32nd birthday, Kealia shared asweet birthday tributeto her husband. Alongside four throwback photos of JJ, she wrote, “Happy Birthday to my favorite person in the world. I’m so grateful for every moment I get to spend with you. You make life so beautiful for everyone around you. I love you forever.” She concluded with a blue heart emoji.

February 2, 2022: JJ Watt and Kealia Ohai Watt celebrate their 2nd wedding anniversary

Kealia posted a photo of her embracing JJ on their wedding day to celebrate their second anniversary. “21520 The best day and the best two years married to you. Happy Anniversary, I love you so much @jjwatt,” she wrote.

The coupleshared a series of photos from a beach vacationon Instagram.

“Hang it in the Louvre 😍😍😍,” the NFL player captioned a photo of his pregnant wife sitting in a pool. JJ also posted snaps from a beach walk on his Instagram Story.

July 2022:JJ Watt and Kealia Ohai Wattattend his brother TJ’s wedding

JJ and Kealiacelebrated the weddingof JJ’s brother, TJ Watt, and pro soccer player Dani Rhodes.

October 23, 2022: JJ Watt and Kealia Ohai Watt welcome their first child

“Love and happiness have reached heights we never even knew existed,” the couple wrote.

December 27, 2022: JJ Watt announces his retirement with family photos

JJ postedphotos on Twitter and Instagramfeaturing him, Kealia and their 9-week-old son, Koa, at State Farm Stadium. In the caption, the Arizona Cardinals player shared news of his retirement.

“Koa’s first ever NFL game. My last ever NFL home game,“he wrote. “My heart is filled with nothing but love and gratitude. It’s been an honor and a pleasure.”

January 8, 2023: JJ Watt shares a sweet moment with Kealia Watt after his final game

January 31, 2023: JJ Watt has a Taylor Swift-themed cake made for Kealia Watt’s 31st birthday

“When your wife loves cake and @taylorswift13…” the NFL player captioned an image of the extravagant dessert onTwitter.

February 8, 2023: Kealia Watt says JJ Watt retired in part to spend more time with Koa

Kealia talked to PEOPLE about JJ’sdecision to retire from the NFL. “I think that there were obviously many things that went into his decision,” she said. “I know he wanted to be with Koa.”

“The way it worked out, it was just the perfect time and it couldn’t have been better for us and Koa,” the soccer player added.

February 9, 2023: Kealia Watt says her and JJ Watt’s relationship has changed since becoming parents

Kealia spoke to PEOPLE about howher and JJ’s lives have changedsince welcoming their son, Koa. “We have grown so much as a couple and as partners through this whole thing,” the soccer player said. “We’ve really figured out how to be a good team and to work together and work with each other.”

However, the mom of one admitted that the change hasn’t been easy. “That affects your relationship,” she said of becoming parents, “and you really have to communicate and find time for each other, because the first couple of months, it’s like that goes out the window because you have no time.”

May 1, 2023: Kealia Watt and JJ Watt invest in Burnley Football Club

OnInstagram, Kealia and JJ announced their decision to invest in Burnley Football Club — an English soccer team.

“I’ve only been retired for about four months now, but I really need something to do,” JJ said in a video. “We are going to invest in European football. We don’t have ‘buy an entire European football club’ kind of money, we’re more along the lines of minority investment but massive emotional investment.”

In a separate post, Kealia wrote: “Incredibly excited to be joining the @burnleyofficial ownership group (and for JJ to have something to do 😂😂).”

September 28, 2023: Kealia Watt and JJ Watt recall their first date

Ethan Miller/Getty

While chatting with PEOPLE, JJ described their first date as pretty “stereotypical.” He took Kealia to dinner and then to Topgolf.

“I didnot want to go to Topgolfbecause I’m so bad at golfing. At the time, I was even worse,” Kealia chimed in. “I was begging him! I was like, ‘Please, no, I don’t want to go.’ But he was like, ‘We’re going, it’s going to be fun.’ "

JJ added: “It was really fun, but I was nervous. She was definitely nervous about the golf. She did not want to go. But it all worked out all right. We haven’t been back to Topgolf.”

“Can’t wait to welcome new love into our lives. ❤️💙,” they wrote in their caption.

In another post, JJ shared on his Instagram Stories that showed their son peering at his mom’s belly, he wrote, “Koa slightly skeptical.”

source: people.com