It feels like just yesterday J.J. Watt was a scrawny—well, as "scrawny" as a 6-foot-5 human can be—tight end at Central Michigan before he decided to bet on himself and walk on at Wisconsin. Now, we’re looking at a guy who has basically conquered every peak a professional athlete can climb.
So, how old is he? J.J. Watt is 36 years old. He was born on March 22, 1989, in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. If you're doing the math, that puts him firmly in that "post-playing prime" where most guys are either playing golf or wondering if they should have retired a year earlier. But for Watt, 36 looks a little different. He’s not just sitting on a porch in Houston or Arizona. He’s arguably more visible now than he was when he was racking up 20.5 sacks in a single season.
The Reality of J.J. Watt’s Age and That "Un-Retirement" Talk
Honestly, 36 is a weird age in the NFL. It’s the age where your body usually starts sending you invoices for all the hits you took in your 20s. Watt officially stepped away after the 2022 season, finishing his career with the Arizona Cardinals. At the time, he was 33. Most fans thought he had plenty left in the tank, especially since he put up 12.5 sacks in his final year. That’s elite production.
But 36 is also the age where the "what if" phone calls start happening.
Just recently, in early 2026, the rumors started swirled again. We’ve seen him on The Pat McAfee Show joking about his fitness levels. He even admitted to the Houston Chronicle that he’d entertained the idea of coming back in 2024 or 2025 if the "perfect situation" arose—specifically mentioning a return to DeMeco Ryans’ Texans or joining his brother T.J. in Pittsburgh.
But let’s be real. At 36, the recovery time isn't what it used to be. You've got to balance the urge to hit someone with the fact that your 36-year-old joints might prefer a nice studio chair.
📖 Related: Why Netball Girls Sri Lanka Are Quietly Dominating Asian Sports
Why People Keep Searching for J.J. Watt’s Age
You've probably noticed that every time T.J. Watt makes a play for the Steelers, people immediately Google J.J. It’s a sibling thing. T.J. is currently the one carrying the torch on the field, but J.J. remains the blueprint. People check his age because they want to know if a comeback is biologically possible.
The short answer? Yes.
The long answer? It’s complicated.
Look at guys like Bruce Smith or Reggie White; they played into their late 30s and early 40s. Watt is a freak of nature. He still looks like he could walk into a weight room and out-bench half the active defensive ends in the league. But 36 is a threshold. It’s the point where you transition from "veteran" to "legend."
Life in the Booth: J.J. Watt at 36
Instead of chasing quarterbacks, Watt is now chasing the perfect broadcast segment. He’s currently a major fixture for CBS Sports. In 2025, he made a massive jump from the studio to the #2 game announcing team alongside Ian Eagle.
👉 See also: Why Cumberland Valley Boys Basketball Dominates the Mid-Penn (and What’s Next)
Think about that.
Most players take a decade to climb that ladder. Watt did it in two years. He’s bringing that same obsessive "film room" energy to the booth. He’s mentioned in interviews that he prepares for a broadcast the same way he prepared for the Indianapolis Colts—lots of coffee, lots of notes, and zero interest in being second best.
It’s refreshing, honestly. You've got a guy who is young enough to still know every player on the field personally, but old enough to have the "elder statesman" respect of the locker room.
A Quick Breakdown of the Watt Timeline
- 1989: Born in Wisconsin.
- 2011: Drafted 11th overall by the Houston Texans (he was 22).
- 2012-2015: The peak dominance. Three Defensive Player of the Year awards in four years. He was 23 to 26 during this run.
- 2017: Named Walter Payton Man of the Year for his Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.
- 2022: Retirement at age 33.
- 2026: Leading the CBS broadcast booth at age 36.
Is 36 the "New 26" for Retired Stars?
There’s a shift happening in sports. We used to think that once a player hit 35, they disappeared. They went to their ranch and showed up once a year for a Ring of Honor ceremony.
Watt is proving that 36 is actually a massive business opportunity. Between his investment in Burnley F.C. (the English soccer club), his various brand deals, and his broadcasting career, he’s basically building a billion-dollar brand. He’s not just a "former player." He’s a mogul.
✨ Don't miss: What Channel is Champions League on: Where to Watch Every Game in 2026
He’s also a dad now. He and his wife, Kealia Watt, have a son, Koa. That changes the perspective on "age" more than any sack record ever could. When you’re 25, you want to live in the gym. At 36, you want to make sure you can still run around the backyard without your back locking up.
What Most People Get Wrong About His "Early" Retirement
People often say J.J. retired too early. They see him at 36, looking fit, and think he left meat on the bone.
But if you follow his career, you know about the injuries. The back surgeries. The broken leg. The torn pec. The heart procedure (atrial fibrillation) he had to undergo right before a game in 2022.
When you’re 36 and you’ve lived through that, "early" is a relative term. He didn't retire because he couldn't play; he retired because he wanted to be able to walk when he was 50. That’s a level of maturity you don't always see in pro sports. It’s easy to stay too long. It’s much harder to walk away when you’re still at the top.
Actionable Insights: Learning from the Watt Method
Whether you’re a fan or just someone looking at his career path, there are a few things J.J. Watt’s current stage of life can teach us:
- Diversify Early: He didn't wait until he was 40 to start thinking about "what’s next." He was doing cameos on New Girl and hosting SNL while he was still the best defender in the world.
- Bet on Yourself: Walking on at Wisconsin was a risk. Retiring at 33 to join a crowded media field was a risk. Both paid off because he put in the work.
- Health is the Only Currency: He’s vocal about his health now. He listens to his body. At 36, he’s a prime example of why long-term wellness beats short-term glory.
If you’re wondering what J.J. Watt will be doing at 40, my guess is he’ll be running a team or sitting in the #1 broadcast chair. Age is just a number, but for Watt, it’s a scoreboard—and right now, he’s winning.
Next Step for You: If you're tracking his career, keep an eye on the CBS NFL schedule. Watching Watt analyze a pass rush in real-time is basically a masterclass in defensive football. It’s way more informative than the standard "he just wanted it more" commentary we usually get.