Football lovers and horse trainers might enjoy this fun piece of equine news. The Houston Police Department introduced a horse named J.J. Watt to his namesake, the professional football player and Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt.
The 2014 Pro Bowler greeted the horse, a brown-and-white stallion, in late November while he was in his full football uniform.
“We look almost the same,” Watt joked, standing side-by-side with the animal, according to the National Football League’s video post on Twitter.
The 25-year-old athlete fed the horse as fans and spectators circled around them. Watt, who stands at 6 foot 5 inches and weighs nearly 300 pounds, was unsure if the horse could handle him. But as much of an animal as Watt is on the field, this police equine is equally brawny. After cautiously putting on his helmet, Watt saddled up.
“Can I take him back to the locker room?” Watt said as he smiled. On the saddle, which reads “J.J. Watt, #99, Houston POLICE,” the football player signed his name along with some words of wisdom: “Ride Safe!”
Though the 2013 season wasn’t the best year for the Houston Texans, Watt stood out as a defensive beast. He made a total of 80 tackles, 10.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. This year Watt is playing well, and when gearing up to face him in week 12, Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson summarized him as this:
“He’s a man-beast. He is. I mean, what can you say?” Jackson told EPN. “Whatever superlative that you want to use, you can use it. He’s as good as I’ve ever seen to play the game. He plays with unbelievable energy and tenacity, determination, desire. He makes a lot of football plays.”
The Houston Police Department is excited to see what talents their equine brings to the stable.