Houston Texans Star J.J. Watt Offered Some Very Kind Words About His Time With Barbara Bush

For the better part of a decade, Texans defensive lineman J.J. Watt has been the biggest name in Houston sports. In his time as a pro athlete, he’s worn that mantle well, reaching out selflessly for many charitable efforts, most notably a Hurricane Harvey relief fundraiser that raised a staggering $37 million for Houston-area residents affected by the storm.

And as a notable presence among Houstonians, it’s no surprise that he rubbed elbows often with another prominent personality in the city, former first lady Barbara Bush, who died April 17, 2018, at age 92. However, their relationship was more than a passing familiarity. The unlikely duo teamed up in 2014 to “tackle illiteracy,” with Bush going so far as to outfit herself in shoulder pads and eye black for the occasion.

To commemorate the mark she left on the city of Houston, as well as the world at large, Watt offered some very kind words about his time with Bush following news of her passing. In doing so, he also expressed gratitude for their years of friendship together.

The pro football star’s foundation offered a formal recollection of her outlook and philanthropy, complete with a selection of photos of the two prominent Houstonians together.