JJ Watt and Kealia Watt Welcome Baby No. 2

JJ Watt and Kealia Watt have welcomed another little athlete to their family!

The former NFL star turned analyst and the ex-Chicago Red Stars player announced the arrival of thier baby boy on June 25. “Overcome with joy and gratitude. Niko Benjamin Watt. 6.14.25,” the couple captioned a photo of their new family of four gathered in the hospital.

Niko, a name of Finnish origin shot to popularity in the 90s and is the top 900 names for boys in the US. Traditionally meaning ‘victory of the people,’ Niko is a fitting choice for the son of a legendary defensive end and a FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup champion who is sure to have his own winning career ahead.

The Watts first shared the exciting news that they were expecting on February 3. “Can’t wait to welcome new love into our lives,” the two captioned a photo of their 2-year-old son Koa kissing mom’s baby bump.

The pro-athlete pair first became parents in October 2022. “Love and happiness have reached heights we never even knew existed. Koa James Watt. 10.23.22,” the couple captioned the photo of Mom, Dad and baby boy Watt in the delivery room,

The first baby Watts’ name—Koa, meaning “warrior,”—also fits right in with his family’s athletic legacy. Plus, Koa James can be shortened to KJ Watt, in line with his father JJ’s nickname.

The couple first met through Kaelia’s brother-in-law, Brian Cushing, who just happens to be JJ’s former teammate. Their relationship was later confirmed in an October 2016 podcast, where Kaelia said: “The rumors are true. We are dating. I’ve known JJ for a really long time, and we’ve always been great friends.” The two got engaged in May 2019 before tying the knot at a destination wedding in the Bahamas in February 2020.