Who Is T.J. Watt's Wife? All About Dani Rhodes

T.J. Watt is well known for his family ties — he's one of a trio of brothers. But his brothers aren't the only family in his corner. The Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker married his girlfriend of six years, Dani Rhodes, in 2022.

The couple first met as student-athletes at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and both went on to become professional athletes. After getting engaged in 2021, Rhodes and Watt celebrated their wedding in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, the following year.

"When I was a little girl I never thought I'd find someone special enough to ever change my last name… But I found him and couldn't be happier to share a name with the man of my dreams," Rhodes wrote on Instagram after their wedding.

In March 2025, Rhodes and Watt announced the arrival of their first child, daughter Blakely.

Who is T.J. Watt's wife? Here's everything to know about Dani Rhodes.

She grew up in Wisconsin

Rhodes grew up in Waukesha, Wisconsin, where she attended Waukesha West High School. She was named to her school's prom court and played both basketball and soccer.

She went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison

She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in December 2020 with a degree in life sciences communication.

A student-athlete, Rhodes played soccer for the university. In 2019, she was named Big Ten Forward of the Year and received an All-America Second Team honor.

Rhodes was also a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.

She is a former professional soccer player

In 2020, Rhodes played one season for the Chicago Red Stars in the National Women's Soccer League. The following year, she signed with ​​Thróttur Reykjavík, a professional team in Iceland.

During her tenure in Iceland, she posted photos of herself exploring the country, including photos of a trip her family took to visit her there.

Rhodes retired from soccer in February 2023.

"This was not an easy decision for me, but my body and my mind are ready and excited for another chapter," she wrote on Instagram. "This game introduced me to so many amazing people, took me to places around the world that I could only dream of, and taught me how to overcome adversity."

She played soccer with her sister-in-law

Before they were sisters-in-law, Rhodes played for the Chicago Red Stars with Kealia Ohai, who married JJ Watt in 2020.

When Rhodes announced her engagement to Watt on Instagram in 2021, Ohai commented, "I'm so happy❤️."

She married Watt in Mexico

In July 2022, the couple tied the knot in Cabo San Lucas. Watt's Pittsburgh Steelers teammates — including his brother Derek Watt — were in attendance, in addition to Rhodes' soccer teammates from throughout her career.

Instagram snaps from the big day revealed ocean views and a bustling dance floor. Even Rhodes and Watt's initials were projected onto a nearby cliff.

She also played basketball

Not only did Rhodes play soccer in high school, but she was also a basketball athlete who put up impressive numbers. She was captain of the basketball team in both her junior and senior years.

In her final season, she scored more than 1,000 points and held her high school's all-time scoring record at the time.

"Dani is not only one of the best soccer players in the state, but she's also a leading scorer in Wisconsin for basketball," said UW's women's soccer head coach Paula Wilkins.

She has two brothers

Rhodes has two brothers: Drew and Dylan. She described her older brother Drew as "a best friend and brother all in one."

She's also called her younger brother Dylan "the best younger brother a sister could ask for." In an Instagram caption, she wrote, "You have the biggest heart out of anyone I know and I'm so proud of WHO you are."

Dylan returned the praise when Rhodes and Watt got married, thanking them for letting him be the "prettiest bridesmaid."

She and Watt share a daughter

Rhodes and Watt are officially parents! They announced the arrival of their first child together, daughter Blakely Marie Watt, in March 2025.

"Worth The Wait," the couple captioned a joint post on Instagram, which featured several sweet photos of their newborn baby girl.