All About JJ Watt's Son Koa James (and How He Influenced His Dad's Decision to Retire)

From NFL legend to doting dad, J.J. Watt is tackling fatherhood with his son Koa James Watt.

The former Houston Texans player and his wife, professional soccer player Kealia Ohai Watt, welcomed their son in October 2022. The couple, who tied the knot in February 2020, have embraced their new roles as parents, often sharing glimpses of their life as a family of three on social media.

J.J. has shared that fatherhood reshaped his priorities and brought new meaning to his life. When Koa turned 1 in October 2023, the former Arizona Cardinals player reflected on the past year in a sweet Instagram post captioned, “Happiest year of our lives. Happy Birthday Koa James!”

Similarly, Kealia shared photos of their son and captioned her post, "Our baby is 1 🥹I don’t know how the time passed so quickly but it’s been the best year of our lives with sweet Koa bear💙.”

Related: The Watt Brothers: Everything to Know About the NFL Family

Fatherhood is incredibly important to J.J. as Kealia previously revealed to PEOPLE that their son's birth played a major factor in her husband's 2022 decision to retire.

From his birth to some of the toddler's firsts, here’s everything to know about J.J. Watt’s son, Koa.

He was born in 2022

The Watts officially became a family of three with the arrival of their son Koa on Oct. 23, 2022.

"Love and happiness have reached heights we never even knew existed," J.J. and Kealia wrote on Instagram, announcing their son's birth.

Related: JJ Watt and Kealia Ohai Watt's Relationship Timeline

Koa's arrival marked a new chapter for the couple, who had tied the knot during a romantic Valentine’s Day weekend wedding in the Bahamas two years prior.

He’s supported his dad

Koa has been cheering on his dad since the earliest days of his life. Even as a newborn, Koa joined his mom in supporting J.J. from the stands. Kealia shared a photo of Koa’s “first game day” on Instagram in October 2022, as the Arizona Cardinals faced the Minnesota Vikings.

In the adorable snapshot, Koa sported a tiny Cardinals onesie with J.J.’s name and jersey number, paired with a cozy black beanie. Kealia wrote on her Instagram Stories, “Koa’s first game day ❤️ Let’s go daddy!!!”

Even after J.J.'s retirement, Koa continued to be a part of his dad’s milestone moments. At J.J.’s induction into the Houston Texans’ Ring of Honor in 2023, the proud dad held 10-month-old Koa in his arms as the crowd erupted into cheers.

J.J. retired from the NFL largely because of Koa

J.J.’s decision to retire from the NFL in December 2022 was deeply influenced by his role as a new father.

While there were several factors at play, Kealia revealed to PEOPLE that their son was a “huge part” of the decision. “I know he wanted to be with Koa,” she shared.

Koa's birth brought J.J. and Kealia even closer

J.J. and Kealia have experienced some changes in their relationship, both as partners and parents after the birth of their son.

Kealia told PEOPLE in 2023 that becoming parents was a "huge adjustment" for the couple, especially as J.J. transitioned out of his NFL career around the same time. Despite the challenges, the experience brought them closer together.

“We’ve grown so much as a couple and as partners through this whole thing,” Kealia said. “We’ve really figured out how to be a good team and work together.”

The mom of one admitted that the initial months after Koa’s birth were particularly tough, as finding time for each other became a challenge. “A baby is not something that makes your relationship so much better and easier,” Kealia explained. “You really have to communicate and find time for each other.”

J.J. told PEOPLE he has embraced the transformation fatherhood brought to his life and marriage.

“It’s a love that I never knew I could have,” he said of growing his family with Kealia. “I look at my wife in an even more beautiful light now, watching her be a mother to our beautiful son.”

He’s already traveled multiple times

Koa is already a seasoned traveler, joining his parents on some special trips in his first years of life.

The retired NFL star and Kealia enjoyed Koa’s first big family vacation when he was just 5 months old. The tropical getaway was filled with memorable moments, including photos of Koa soaking up the sunshine, lounging in the pool in sunglasses that matched his dad’s and posing with his proud parents.

“Koa’s first vacation,” J.J. captioned the Instagram photos, adding, “QUICKLY learned that vacations are no longer vacations for the parents 😂🤦🏼‍♂️🏝️.”

The family of three continued making travel memories when they celebrated Easter abroad. In April 2024, J.J. shared glimpses of their holiday on Instagram, where they appeared to be traveling, including a sweet family photo at a restaurant.

J.J. and Kealia hope to coach Koa's sports teams

J.J. and Kealia are already envisioning a future filled with team huddles as they prepare for the day Koa takes the field.

During a 2023 youth football clinic in Houston, where he and Kealia teamed up to mentor young athletes, J.J. shared with PEOPLE that Koa already has a budding love for sports.

“I imagine we'll be coaching in some capacity in the future,” he said, before revealing that Koa “loves chasing [a soccer ball] around and kicking it.”

Koa loves sports, just like his parents

As Koa continues to grow, J.J. has noticed that he has a budding passion for sports, something that resonates deeply with both him and his wife. “He’s really loving sports,” the former NFL player shared with PEOPLE in 2024, describing how Koa enjoys playing with his mini basketball hoop and learning to handle hockey sticks.

For J.J. and Kealia, it’s thrilling to see their son gravitate toward sports at such a young age. “We obviously love sports because of everything that they teach kids,” J.J. said, highlighting the skills and values that helped shape their own lives. While they’re excited about Koa’s interest, J.J. and Kealia are keeping an open mind about which path Koa might choose.

“We’re really looking forward to him participating, as long as he wants to, and it seems so far like he’s interested," J.J. said.

Though many wonder if Koa will follow in his parents’ athletic footsteps — whether on the soccer or football field — J.J. has joked that his son’s size may influence his options.

“He’s a big boy right now, so I don’t know if his endurance and stamina are going to be there for soccer,” he said. “But I can only hope that he gets his mom’s quickness and speed because she’s a hell of an athlete.”

Read the original article on People