NFL's T.J. Watt & Pro Soccer Star Dani Watt Welcome Baby Girl

The Watt family has a new shining star.

Pittsburgh Steelers legend T.J. Watt and retired professional soccer player Dani Watt welcomed their first child together on March 10. “Worth the wait. Welcome to the world, Blakely Marie Watt,” the couple captioned a carousel of photos featuring their newborn. The black-and-white images give fans a sneak peek at the couple’s daughter, including sweet snapshots of T.J. in his first few days as a parent, snuggling with his newest love.

Blakely, a gender-neutral name of British and Scottish origin, comes from the Old English words blæc (meaning “dark, black”) and leah (“woodland clearing”). Traditionally meaning “dark woodland clearing,” the name has taken on a more modern, elegant status, now ranking just outside the top 150 names for girls in the U.S. Paired with the ever-popular middle name Marie, Blakely is sure to be a fan favorite—just like her parents.

The Watts first shared their pregnancy news on Labor Day, posting a maternity shoot on Instagram with the caption, “February 2025.” In the photos, Dani proudly displayed her baby bump in a classic white t-shirt and jeans while standing alongside T.J. in their home.

Friends, fellow athletes, and fans flooded the comments with love and congratulations. “Wow! Yessss sirr,” wrote Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson. “Congrats, Brodie! Am I in the running for godfather?” joked Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward. “LET’S GOOOO,” added T.J.’s older brother and NFL star J.J. Watt. Influencers like Allison Kuch, Marissa Lawrence, and Abbie Herbert also shared their congratulations.

Many fans couldn’t resist joking about Blakely’s inevitable athletic future. “And with the 1st pick of the 2048 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers select…,” one commenter joked. Another added, “This kid already has 17 D1 offers from the womb.”

Dani and T.J. first met as student-athletes at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After six years of dating, they got engaged in 2021 and tied the knot in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico in 2022.