--- description: After raising more than $31 million for the victims of Hurricane Harvey, J.J. Watt returned to the field with an emotional entrance Sunday. title: J.J. Watt Got a Hero's Welcome After Raising Millions for Harvey Relief image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt47ac962a8572664a/6988dd2a656a3f7a96bd19e5/jj-watt.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Sports](/section/sports/) ## Sports Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [NFL](/tag/nfl/) ## NFL Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # J.J. Watt Got a Hero's Welcome in His First Game After Raising Millions for Harvey Relief by [Jennifer Calfas](/author/jennifer-calfas/) ## Jennifer Calfas Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Sep 10, 2017 7:49 PM CUT  J.J. Watt #99 of the Houston Texans enters the field with Texas flag against the Jacksonville Jaguars at NRG Stadium on September 10, 2017 in Houston, Texas. J.J. Watt #99 of the Houston Texans enters the field with Texas flag against the Jacksonville Jaguars at NRG Stadium on September 10, 2017 in Houston, Texas.Tim Warner—Getty Images by [Jennifer Calfas](/author/jennifer-calfas/) ## Jennifer Calfas Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Sep 10, 2017 7:49 PM CUT Waving the Texas state flag, NFL star [J.J. Watt](http://time.com/money/4923078/jj-watt-houston-texans-hurricane-harvey-charity/ "undefined") made an emotional return to the field Sunday after raising millions of dollars for the victims of [Hurricane Harvey](http://time.com/4930098/texas-hurricane-harvey-death-toll-70/ "undefined"). Watt, the Houston Texans’ star defensive end, emerged as a hero in Texas off the field after Harvey caused catastrophic flooding and destruction in the Lone Star State. In the days after the storm made landfall, Watt created [a crowdfunding page](https://www.youcaring.com/victimsofhurricaneharvey-915053 "undefined") to raise money for those impacted by the storm, with a modest goal of $200,000. His fundraising efforts have surpassed $31 million in donations as of Sunday afternoon. For the Houston Texans’ first regular season game on Sunday, Watt emerged last from the tunnel onto the field when the team announced its defensive players, resulting in cheers from the crowd at the city’s NGR Stadium. Watt’s entrance was also emotional for another reason. After missing the majority of last season due to a back injury, Watt’s return marks his first game on the Houston Texans’s home field since Sept. 22, 2016. Watt’s crowdfunding efforts have drawn support from high-profile individuals in and out of Texas. Former President George H.W. Bush shared Watt’s fundraising page on Twitter, and talk show hosts Ellen DeGeneres and [Jimmy Fallon](http://time.com/money/4928874/jimmy-fallon-tonight-show-jj-watt-donation-hurricane-harvey-choir/ "undefined") contributed $1 million each. The Houston Texans star also runs his own charity, the JJ Watt Foundation, which helps create after-school athletic programs for schools with low funding in Texas and Wisconsin. (Watt was born in Wisconsin and graduated from the University of Wisconsin—Madison.) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4935315/jj-watt-fundraiser-houston-texans-harvey/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4935315/jj-watt-fundraiser-houston-texans-harvey/"},"headline":"J.J. 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