JJ Watt has become a Wisconsin sports legend, and this weekend, he proved that he still has game.
Watt, who was born in Pewaukee and was a star football player for both the University of Wisconsin Madison and the NFL. Watt retired at the end of the 2022 NFL football season, playing his last game in January 2023 with the Arizona Cardinals, although he is most known for his run with the Houston Texans.
This past week, though, Watt showed off another skill.
On Friday, July 25, Watt threw out the first pitch at the Milwaukee Brewers game. The ceremonial first pitch kicked off a game that paid tribute to other Wisconsin sports legends, as former Wisconsin MLB stars like Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, and Carlos Gómez were also in attendance. That date marked the 25th anniversary of American Family Field, formerly known as Miller Park, which opened after County Stadium closed in the September of 2000.
However, Watt accomplished a lot more in the following innings.
For those unaware, the 9-9-9 challenge has become something of a sports fan legend.
The goal if the challenge is simple and silly: You must drink nine beers and eat nine hot dogs in the nine innings of a baseball game.
Throughout a series of posts on X, Watt asked his followers about the 9-9-9 challenge. Then, throughout a series of updates given over the course of the game, Watt made his attempt at defeating the challenge well known.
Watt finished the challenge early, making it look like a breeze. Not only did he consume all nine of the required beers and hotdogs, he did it in just 5 and a half innings. Leave it to a Wisconsin sports legend to knock this competition out of the park, too.
Best of all, Watt finished off the escapade by posting a photo of his post-game Culver’s meal, which wouldn’t be complete without cheese curds and a turtle sundae.
Watt is considered to be one of the NFL’s greatest defensive linemen. He was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year three times, won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award, and set several franchise records. His career is proof of his dedication to sportsmanship, but his dedication to the 9-9-9 challenge proves he is a Wisconsinite at heart.
