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Houston Texans: The peculiarity of J.J. Watt’s Hurricane Harvey fundraiser

By Brian K. Patterson

HOUSTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 3: (AFP OUT) Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt holds a box of relief supplies on his shoulder while handing them out to people impacted by Hurricane Harvey on September 3, 2017, in Houston, Texas. Watt's Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund has raised more than $18 million to date to help those affected by the storm. (Photo by Brett Coomer - Pool/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 3: (AFP OUT) Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt holds a box of relief supplies on his shoulder while handing them out to people impacted by Hurricane Harvey on September 3, 2017, in Houston, Texas. Watt's Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund has raised more than $18 million to date to help those affected by the storm. (Photo by Brett Coomer - Pool/Getty Images) /
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Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt has been named as a finalist for winning the Walter Payton Man of the Year honors.  It’s not too surprising that he received the nomination but the notion of how he raised $37 million is quite peculiar.  Here’s why I think he’ll win the award.

The Houston Texans have a positive story line to off set the lackluster 4-12 season that the team just completed.  Believe me, I was counting down for the season to end as it felt as if someone were prodding me repeatedly to remind me how bad things were.

A lot of it was the unprecedented amount of injuries that the team had suffered over the course and part of it was that there was a lack of depth to counterpoint the drop off in production.  Sure you can’t necessarily a J.J. Watt or a Whitney Mercilus but there should’ve been a plan to ensure there was some continuity despite the challenges.  It’s never easy managing an NFL roster but that’s the way the cookie crumbled for the Houston Texans.

But the good news is that Watt has been nominated as a finalist for the Walter Payton Man of the Year.  This is, of course, because of his benevolent efforts to help the city of Houston recover from Hurricane Harvey, one of the most destructive storms in modern history.  I had a feeling he was going to be up for it because of his insistence in reassuring Houstonians that he was going to do his part to help.

Watt didn’t have to do this but just knowing that it’s the right gesture to make indicates what kind of person he is.  The defensive lineman raised $37 million in funds online with show-stoppers such as Drake and Ellen DeGeneres donating a combined $1.2 million to his campaign.  The largest chunk came from Charles Butt, owner of HEB, with a $5 million donation of his own.

But the incredible part of the success of his campaign was that it came from small donations from people all over the landscape — dads, moms, sisters, brothers, doctors, lawyers…you name it.

It’s the strategy that was proven fruitful in the success of fundraising for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in 2008 and 2012 to which, at the time, was a groundbreaking notion by not traditionally taking money from political action committees.

It ensures that the best interest of the people donating are at heart, not at the hands of those who have the capital to influence policy.

But as we know with J.J., just about everything with him is groundbreaking — a revolutionary figure that comes by once in a lifetime, perhaps in a google plex.

Watt quickly got to work, divvying up $30.15 million to four charities — Americares, Feeding America, SBP and Save the Children — with the leftover $7 million or so to be used up this year, depending on what needs still need to be met for recovery.

These reasons alone warrant him to win this award but there are two other impressive finalists that have been named.

Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen has raised more than $500,000 in breast cancer research

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with the past battle — as well as the recovery — of his mother from this disease likely being the driving factor for his inspiration to help.

Baltimore Ravens tight end Benjamin Watson is the other finalist, having done countless work with his organization, the One Arm Foundation.  This charity helps with a multitude of projects that range from supporting anti-human trafficking efforts, funding shopping sprees for children during the holidays and donating turkeys for families around the Thanksgiving holidays, to name just a few things.

Regardless, these finalists have strong cases to win the award but Watt’s unprecedented fundraising as a sports figure should put him over the top.

The winner will be announced Saturday, Feb. 3, during NFL Honors, a relatively-new televised production of all of the seasonal award winners.  The show will air at 8 p.m. CST on NBC.

This annual award perpetually elevates Payton’s legacy as a man of the people by emboldening NFL players to follow in his foot steps as well as galvanize others looking on.

Next: Evaluating the 2017 offense, 2018 outlook by position

Good luck J.J. — go Houston Texans.

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