• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Phoenix Sports Today

Phoenix Sports News Continuously Updated

  • Cardinals
  • Diamondbacks
  • Coyotes
  • Basketball
    • Mercury
    • Suns
  • Soccer
  • Colleges
    • Arizona State
    • Grand Canyon University
    • Northern Arizona
    • University of Arizona

Watt A Heart

July 25, 2022 by Revenge Of The Birds

NFC Wild Card Playoffs - Arizona Cardinals v Los Angeles Rams
Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Arizona Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt once again has come to the aid of a family in utter distress.

NFL star J.J. Watt offers to cover the cost of a funeral after woman tweets about selling shoes to raise money

July 24, 2022, 1:39 PM EDT

https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/nfl-star-jj-watt-offers-cover-cost-funeral-woman-tweets-selling-shoes-rcna39754?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma

By Kalhan Rosenblatt

A woman tweeted that she was selling a pair of J.J. Watt-edition shoes and a jersey to raise money for her grandfather’s funeral.

Then, Watt, the Arizona Cardinals’ star defensive end, stepped in himself.

Jennifer Simpson, a Texas teacher, tweeted Wednesday asking whether anyone would be interested in buying the shoes.

“I have a pair of @JJWatt womens edition of Reebok shoes size 9 $60. I’ve worn them twice. They are great shoes, im only selling because we are raising money for my grandpas funeral,” Simpson tweeted. “I also have a Watt womens XL Texans Jersey $30. Anyone interested?”

Watt retweeted Simpson’s post the same day, telling her to hold on to the shoes and the jersey.

“Don’t sell your shoes and jersey, we’ll help with the funeral. I’m sorry for your loss,” Watt wrote.

Watt’s tweet had racked up more than 243,700 likes by late Sunday afternoon.

Get the Morning Rundown

Get a head start on the morning’s top stories.

In a reply, Simpson said she wished she could tell Watt all she had been through.

“I freaking love you man. It’s been a hard year for me, and this last month has been hard since the death. I wish I could tell you my story,” Simpson wrote.

Simpson’s grandfather Jerry Roderick died unexpectedly on June 20, according to her aunt Tara Roderick.

Roderick told NBC’s “TODAY” show that the family had no clue the tweet would get the attention of Watt himself.

“We did not expect anything,” Roderick said. “We were just expecting that maybe another fan would want to buy that jersey or shoes.”

At first the family was skeptical, but then Watt sent the funds to Simpson by PayPal.

“Then Jennifer sent me a screenshot where he had sent money through PayPal,” Roderick said. “I almost died. He said he was sorry for our loss and gave his donation.”

Roderick said the funeral costs had been paid off. The family is working to pay for the cemetery costs.

“I would love to talk to J.J. myself, because what he has done has lifted a little burden knowing we can lay my dad to rest after a month,” Roderick said.

—————————————————————————————————————————————-

Watt a Heart.

Watt a Legacy.

Filed Under: Cardinals

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Diamondbacks Gameday Thread, #83: 6/30 vs. Giants
  • (no title)
  • Noah Fifita, Treydan Stukes among players to represent Arizona at Big 12 Football Media Days
  • Minor League Roundup: Counting on the Future
  • Series Preview #28: Giants @ Diamondbacks

Categories

Archives

Our Partners

All Sports

  • 247 Sports
  • ArizonaSports.com - 98.7 FM
  • Bleacher Report
  • Heat Waved
  • OurSports Central
  • The Arizona Republic
  • The Sports Fan Journal
  • USA Today

Baseball

  • Arizona Diamondbacks
  • AZ Snake Pit
  • Last Word On Baseball
  • MLB Trade Rumors
  • Venom Strikes

Basketball

  • Phoenix Suns
  • Amico Hoops
  • Basketball Insiders
  • Bright Side Of The Sun
  • High Post Hoops
  • Hoops Hype
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Last Word On Pro Basketball
  • Pro Basketball Talk
  • Real GM
  • Valley Of The Suns

Football

  • Arizona Cardinals
  • Cardinals Gab
  • Cards Wire
  • Deep Dive
  • Last Word On Pro Football
  • NFL Trade Rumors
  • Our Turf Football
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Football Talk
  • Raising Zona
  • Revenge Of The Birds
  • Words From The Birds

Hockey

  • Elite Prospects
  • Five For Howling
  • Howlin Hockey
  • Last Word On Hockey
  • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Talk
  • The Hockey Writers

Soccer

  • Last Word on Soccer
  • MLS Multiplex

College

  • AZ Desert Swarm
  • Busting Brackets
  • College Football News
  • College Sports Madness
  • Devils In Detail
  • House Of Sparky
  • Last Word On College Basketball - Univ of Arizona
  • Saturday Blitz
  • Zags Blog
  • Zona Zealots

Copyright © 2025 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in