JJ Watt and Kealia Ohai Welcome Their Second Son Niko in a Heartfelt Family Celebration

25 June 2025

JJ Watt, wife Kealia, son Koa and their new little one. Credit : JJ Watt/Instagram

Former NFL standout JJ Watt and his wife, celebrated former professional soccer player Kealia Ohai Watt, joyfully welcomed their second son, Niko Benjamin Watt, on June 14, 2025. The proud parents chose Father’s Day weekend to share the news, announcing their arrival with heartfelt photos posted to Instagram. The images included sweetly tender moments: their firstborn, big brother Koa James Watt, age two, offering a gentle kiss to his new sibling.

In one photograph, Kealia cradles tiny Niko closely while JJ embraces both mother and elder son in a portrait of familial love. Their caption read simply “Overcome with joy and gratitude,” capturing both celebration and reflection in those five words.

For the Watts, athletics and parenthood now blend seamlessly. Their journey together began in 2016 through mutual friends in the NFL community a connection that blossomed into romance and culminated in a Bahamian wedding on February 15, 2020. Their first child was born in October 2022, and they announced their second pregnancy this past February in a photo featuring their growing family and faithful dogs, all radiating anticipation.

Life after professional sports has evolved in meaningful ways for both JJ and Kealia. JJ, 36, is set to begin a new role this year as a CBS Sports NFL analyst, teaming up with longtime broadcaster Ian Eagle. Meanwhile, Kealia, 33, has embraced her next chapter in fashion, becoming the face of TravisMathew’s women’s activewear line. The couple's influence extends overseas as minority owners of Burnley Football Club, a Premier League team they joined in 2023.

Their athletic past runs deep. JJ earned three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards during a stellar career with the Houston Texans before a final season in Arizona. Kealia was a standout forward who led the U.S. to the 2012 U‑20 Women’s World Cup title and later starred in the NWSL for Houston Dash and Chicago Red Stars.

The last few years have reshaped their priorities. JJ has spoken candidly about how fatherhood influenced his decision to retire and transition into broadcasting. When Koa arrived, his world changed late-night feedings and floor play took precedence over locker rooms and all the pressures of elite sport. Now, with Niko’s arrival, that chapter of devotion deepens further.

Photos reveal a family bonded by love, laughter, and shared values. Kealia’s maternity glow remains bright; JJ exudes pride as he stands beside his wife and sons. The image of young Koa leaning in to gently kiss Niko evokes a timeless scene of sibling adoration. The caption’s message seems personal yet universal: two athletes turned parents, grounded by family and gratitude.

Their excitement is echoed by fans and followers. Comments flooded in celebrating the expansion of the Watt family, and the images served as a poignant reminder of life beyond public achievement. Careers may change, trophies fade, but family endures and the Watts have made that message front and center.

As they embrace the season ahead, packed with sports analytics, fashion partnerships, and family milestones, this moment serves as both culmination and commencement. Their household is richer now not only in numbers but in meaning and purpose. In balancing fame with fatherhood, their narrative becomes emblematic of modern athlete-life, where legacy is measured not only in records but in loving presence.

The Watts now navigate a home filled with lullabies rather than locker room chants. Niko Benjamin may be a tiny newcomer, but he arrives into a life full of intention, support, and disciplined love. The couple’s future chapters promise to headline not just new ventures and community endeavors, but shared growth as parents.

JJ and Kealia once players on the world stage now coach a team of four, united by kinship and promise. Their shared Instagram announcement captures precisely that: a snapshot of joy, of roots deepening, of gratitude for the season they share together. With Koa guiding his little brother’s hand, they step into the next play as a family fully aligned, full of love, full of potential—and now, blessed with two sons to call their own.