JJ Watt and kid brother TJ are just like any other set of siblings. Except they have bigger bank accounts. We can’t forget that.
The bank account was why JJ Watt, a defensive end for the Arizona Cardinals, did some good-natured trolling of TJ, a linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
JJ Watt tweeted: “TJ Watt should I send those outstanding IOU’s to your accountant or do you want to just Venmo me?”
JJ Watt has to be a proud big brother. After all, on Thursday, TJ became the highest-paid Pittsburgh Steeler. Ever. The Steel Curtain would be proud, too, of Watt. TJ signed a five-year extension worth $122 million, with $80 million of it guaranteed.
We’re assuming TJ has JJ’s Venmo number. He can afford to pay back everything with compound interest.
The deal came four days before the Steelers open the season against Buffalo. The negotiations lasted the summer, but the past few days were anxious times as sides argued over guaranteed money.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the total value of the deal is higher than the four-year, $87,986,500 contract quarterback Ben Roethlisberger signed in 2008. The guaranteed money of $80 million also is twice that of the highest in a Roethlisberger contract.
But TJ Watt certainly is worth the money. He led the NFL in sacks last season with 15. And he also posted 23 tackles for losses. He finished second in voting behind Aaron Donald for NFL defensive player of the year.
JJ Watt Crushed Houston Fans When He Signed With Arizona
Meanwhile, JJ Watt broke the hearts of the Houston Texans when he signed with the Arizona Cardinals in March. And in comparison to TJ’s deal, JJ is making a minimum kind of really rich wage. He signed a two-year deal worth $31 million, with $23 million of it guaranteed. In other words, he doesn’t need to worry about whether his brother ever pads his Venmo account.
JJ Watt broke the news of his signing with a post on Twitter. The snapshot showed Watt pumping some iron while wearing an Arizona Cardinals shirt. This was about three weeks after the Texans released JJ Watt, at his request, so that he could sign somewhere else. Watt spent the first 10 years of his career in Houston and he was one of the most popular, philanthropic athletes in the city.
JJ Watt and his wife, pro soccer player Kealia Watt, flew to Arizona on team owner Michael Bidwill’s plane. Cardinal receiver and former teammate DeAndre Hopkins posted on Instagram: “let’s finish what we started. “
He’s certainly meshed with his new teammates. Arizona announced this week that JJ Watt is one of nine team captains for the season.
And on Thursday, JJ Watt showed his pride in his brother with some good-natured teasing, albeit done with his 5.6 million followers as the audience.
