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15 reasons why J.J. Watt should be your favorite NFL player

  • By Lance Cartelli
  • moments from now
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  • He's the best defensive player in the NFL

    J.J. Watt is not human. He's the best defensive player in the NFL, and there might not be an argument otherwise.

    In his four years in the league, Watt has been named NFL Defensive Player of the Year twice, has been elected to the Pro Bowl three times and signed a six-year, $100 million contract that made him the highest-paid non-QB in the NFL.

    The only thing better than Watt's on-field dominance is how he conducts himself off the field with his fans.

    (Photo: USA Today Sports)

    Credit: Mark J. Rebilas, Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
  • He should be the next Terminator

    Count the original Terminator as a fan of J.J. Watt. Arnold Schwarzenegger is such a big Watt backer that he endorsed the best defensive player in the world as the next Terminator in the series. The respect is mutual. Watt does an uncanny impression of the former California Governator.

    (Photo: USA Today Sports)

    Credit: Troy Taormina, Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
  • He dedicated a sack to two paralyzed kids

    During a 2012 game, J.J. Watt did what comes naturallly: Sack the quarterback. But his celebration was dedicated to two paralyzed kids whom Watt had befriended earlier. Aaron and Peter Berry were paralyzed after a head-on car collision left the two orphaned.

    Watt went on to play wheelchair basketball with the Berrys, which gave him the idea for the sack celebration of a wheelchair.

    (Photo: USA Today Sports)

  • He "married" a 6-year-old fan

    J.J. Watt's love comes in all sizes. After watching a video of a six-year old named Breanna crying because she wasn't old enough to marry Watt, the Texans defensive superstar made arrangements for the love-struck child to tour the Texans stadium.

    Watt surprised Breanna with a ring pop and a white Watt jersey that she used as a dress for their marriage for a day. The two celebrated their nuptials with a first dance to Justin Bieber's "As Long as You Love Me."

    (Photo: USA Today Sports)

    Credit: Kevin Jairaj, Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
  • He hates #selfies

    After the Titans announced Zach Mettenberger as its starting QB last season, he proceeded to take a selfie of his excitement. J.J. Watt did not appreciate Mettenberger's celebration tactics. After sacking the rookie QB, Watt mimed a selfie on the field.

    Following the game, Watt explained his reasoning behind his one-man anti-selfie movement by saying, "Kind of a reminder this is NFL, not high school. Welcome to the show."

    (Photo: USA Today Sports)

    Credit: Troy Taormina, Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
  • He's the first with back-to-back 20+ sack seasons

    J.J. Watt has been in the league since 2011, and he's already a record setter. In the last two seasons, Watt became the first player ever to record back-to-back 20-plus sack seasons. Can he make it a third this year?

    (Photo: USA Today Sports)

    Credit: Troy Taormina, Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
  • He played football with Sandy Hook victims

    To honor the victims of Sandy Hook Elementary School, J.J. Watt wrote "SHES" on his gloves in remembrance. On top of that, Watt tweeted out a photo of him playing pigskin with a five Sandy Hook youngsters.

    (Photo: USA Today Sports)

    Credit: David J. Phillip, AP
  • He'll get you out of work

    When one fan had trouble getting out of work to attend J.J. Watt's celebrity softball game, the dynamic pass rusher took matters into his own hands.

    Watt penned a hand-written note to "Ashlee's Boss" to excuse her from work for a great cause.

    (Photo: USA Today Sports)

    Credit: Troy Taormina, Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
  • He was made into a wedding cake

    At a 2012 wedding between two die-hard Texans fans, the happy couple's wedding cake was a life-size replica of Watt's No. 99 jersey.

    Watt saw the newlyweds' kind gesture, and returned the favor in his own way. Watt showed up at their apartment with wedding gifts in tow. Now that's a best man.

    (Photo: USA Today Sports)

    Credit: Jim Brown, Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
  • He tackled a fan who ran on stage at a Zac Brown Concert

    When one "fan" of the Zac Brown Bad avoided security and ran onto the stage, there was only one line of defense left for the country group -- J.J. Watt. Watt saved the day by tackling the trespasser, who may or may not have been in on the gag.

    (Photo: USA Today Sports)

    Credit: Kevin Jairaj, Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
  • He scored five touchdowns in 2014

    Normally NFL defensive linemen don't score a lot of touchdowns. But J.J. Watt is not a normal defensive lineman. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year reached the end zone five times during the 2014 regular season. He scored two defensive TDs and three receiving TDs for his part-time play on the offensive side.

    (Photo: USA Today Sports)

    Credit: Cary Edmondson, Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
  • He delivered pregnancy news

    What better way to find out your wife is pregnant than letting J.J. Watt reveal the news over the internet? That's what happened to a Texas family after Watt posed for a picture with the inscription, "Steve Burke, you're going to be a dad!" The Burke's owe it to Watt to name their first born J.J.

    (Photo: USA Today Sports)

    Credit: Kevin Jairaj, Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
  • He was named All-Pro at two different positions

    J.J. Watt is so good at football that he was named an All-Pro at two different positions in 2014. Watt earned first-team All-Pro honors as a defensive end, while making the second-team All-Pro squad as a defensive tackle.

    (Photo: USA Today Sports)

    Credit: Phil Sears, Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports
  • He box-jumped 61 inches

    Watt is a 6-foot-5 and tips the scales at 293 pounds, and that athleticism jumps off the screen. It literally did when Watt box-jumped 61 inches to announce his new shoe deal with Adidas. He is clearly not of this world.

    (Photo: USA Today Sports)

    Credit: Troy Taormina, Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
  • He was a walk-on at Wisconsin

    Watt was regarded as a two-star recruit in high school, which garnered him very few scholarship offers from colleges. Watt accepted a scholarship from Central Michigan to be a tight end. He later gave up his scholarship to walk on at the University of Wisconsin. Watt is regarded as one of the best players to go from walk-on in college to the NFL.

    Rarely do you see a former walk-on become the best defensive player in the league.

    (Photo: USA Today Sports)

    Credit: Bob Donnan, Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
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