TJ Watt and his wife, Dani, are expecting their first child; NFL community is thrilled

Former Wisconsin Badgers star and Pittsburgh Steelers superstar TJ Watt and his wife, Dani , made a huge announcement before the start of the 2024 NFL season.

The couple is expecting their first child in February 2025.

The Waukesha County natives — TJ is a Pewaukee High School graduate and Dani graduated from Waukesha West — announced the pregnancy in a joint post on their Instagram accounts on Monday. The post included a series of photos showing Dani's baby bump around their home, including photographs of the ultrasound.

The NFL community congratulated TJ and Dani on their baby news, including big brother JJ Watt .

NFL world reacts to TJ Watt's, Dani Watt's news

JJ Watt , who has one son with wife Kealia , wrote on TJ's and Dani's Instagram post: "LETS GOOOOO!!!!!"

Gabriella Watt, wife of older brother Derek , commented: "Beautiful photos! Can’t wait for February ❤️"

Megan Schobert, wife of former NFL player Joe Schobert, wrote: "Congratulations!!❤️❤️❤️." Joe Schobert is a Waukesha West graduate who played alongside TJ for three seasons at Wisconsin.

Former Wisconsin Badger Nick Herbig , who's entering his second season in Pittsburgh, said: "Congrats!❤️🤙"

Former Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson, who's in his first year in Pittsburgh, added: "Wow! Yessss sirrr." Wilson and TJ are two of four captains on the Steelers in 2024.

Teammate and fellow Steelers star defender Cam Heyward wrote on Instagram: "Congrats Brodie! Am I in the running for godfather?!"

TJ Watt and Dani Watt grew up in Waukesha County

TJ and Dani were household names as athletes in Waukesha County during their high school days.

TJ's jersey was retired at Pewaukee last year for his accomplishments in 2009-13; Dani Rhodes, a 2016 Waukesha West graduate, was an all-state athlete in basketball and soccer. She left as the school's all-time leading scorer in basketball and was a two-time player of the year in soccer.

They began dating at the University of Wisconsin while being successful in their respective sports: TJ in football and Dani in soccer. Both became All-Americans. TJ was then selected by the Steelers in the first round of the NFL draft in 2017 and has become one of the game's best defensive players. He's a five-time NFL all-pro and tied the record for most sacks in a single season in 2021 . Dani was a professional soccer player before retiring in 2023.

Top 100: Dani Rhodes selected among the Journal Sentinel's best athletes from the 2010s

They got engaged in 2021 and got married in a picturesque wedding in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, in July 2022 . On their second wedding anniversary this summer, Dani shared a lovely message to TJ: "Doing life with you will always be my greatest joy. Happy Anniversary TJ Watt ❤️ I love you SO much!"

Months before their wedding, TJ won the 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year for the first time . During his acceptance speech, Watt thanked Dani for being his "No. 1 supporter."

Dani often posts photos on social media offering support for TJ during the season.

In an Instagram post in 2021, Dani shared a picture of the two kissing from inside Lambeau Field — the Steelers played the Packers that season — with the caption "Just 2 kids from Wisconsin."

The Steelers kick off the 2024 NFL season on the road against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

Watt brothers: When the three played in the same NFL game in 2020

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: TJ Watt and his wife, Dani, are expecting their first child; NFL community is thrilled