Pittsburgh Steelers pass rusher TJ Watt may not have been around today had it not been for some quick medical attention from Italian doctors.
Watt, the subject of trade rumors that the Steelers addressed during the offseason, went to Italy with his brothers, JJ and Derek, around 10 years ago. During lunch, he had a bowl of pesto pasta that resulted in a severe allergic reaction.
JJ recalled the scare on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ two years ago and revealed that the brothers had no idea that pesto is made of tree nuts. The former Houston Texans star says his younger brother, who has a severe nut allergy, stopped breathing at the table and was unable to breathe on his own for around 45 minutes.
“We had to get him to the Italian hospital,” Watt explained. “It was one of the scariest experiences of my life because they wouldn’t let me go back with him either. They took him back there when he literally wasn’t breathing and for 45 min to an hour, Derek and I had no idea whether he was going to make it… This was 2014-15ish.”
TJ Watt Could Have Suffered Permanent Brain Damage
JJ explained that it was a challenge communicating with the doctors, who spoke no English, while they didn’t speak any Italian. Fortunately, they used an EpiPen once they got the go-ahead after making a sign.
Despite the oxygen deprivation, which can cause permanent damage to the brain, TJ made a full recovery and went on to be a first-round draft pick who has since made seven Pro Bowls, adding four first-team All-Pros and a Defensive Player of the Year Award to his CV.
Watt signed a three-year $123 million extension with the Steelers this July after it was reported that he would sit out training camp. The deal made him the highest-paid non-quarterback at the time.
The honor now belongs to Micah Parsons, who secured a four-year deal worth $188 million after being traded to the Green Bay Packers.
