TJ Watt was drafted by the Steelers and played in his rookie season in 2017. He made it to his first Pro Bowl in 2018. He was a first-team All-Pro selection for the first time in 2019. He became the league leader in sacks for the first time in 2020. And based on a little bit of Instagram sleuthing, specifically a picture of him and Dani Rhodes together in December of 2016, his longtime girlfriend has been there throughout the whole journey. As it turns out, it's been nearly five years, as Watt celebrated their four-year in late September of 2020 with another post.
The couple took a big step this week, too, becoming more than just a boyfriend-girlfriend couple. Late on Thursday night, Watt shared images to his Instagram of him proposing to Rhodes with a simple yet touching caption: "I am the luckiest man in the world!"
Among those who congratulated him in the comments were Joe Haden, James Washington, Devin Bush, George Kittle, Ryan Shazier and, of course, JJ Watt.
Rhodes, like Watt, attended the University of Wisconsin and was a member of the women's soccer team. One of the best players not only on the team but in the country, Rhodes was named a second-team All-American, the Big Ten Forward of the Year and a member of the Scholar All-America First Team, among other accolades, in 2019. The 13 goals she scored her senior season ranked sixth in Wisconsin history, and she holds the record for most goals in a game (4) against Hofstra in 2018.
Rhodes then played for the Chicago Red Stars in the National Women's Soccer League. Also on that team? Kealia Watt, who is married to JJ, and Julie Ertz, married to Eagles tight end Zach Ertz.
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