NFL Star J J Watt’s New Camo-Colored ‘Reebok JJ III Valor’ Shoe Honors Granddad Who Fought in Korean War

Getty Images | Bryan Bedder

NFL star J.J. Watt has a long history of helping others, but his latest venture is all about helping veterans. Watt launched his brand-new Reebok JJ III Valor shoe line on Nov. 11, 2019, and has pledged to donate proceeds to fund Honor Flight.

Honor Flight is an organization that helps arrange trips for veterans to visit Washington D.C.’s memorials and museums, including a hero’s welcome to honor their service and sacrifice upon their return journey home. Honor Flight is most renowned for honoring World War II veterans but has expanded to include veterans of the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

Watt at the launch of his signature sneaker, The Reebok JJ I, at ArtBeam in New York City on June 23, 2016 ©Getty Images | Bryan Bedder

The Houston Texans’ defender has shared publicly that his latest Valor shoe line was inspired by his grandfather James Watt, who served in the Korean War.

“He’s no longer with us, but he fought in the Korean War and I grew up hearing stories,” Watt told his viewers in a Facebook video uploaded the night before the launch. “We wanted to make this year’s shoe to honor him.”

To coincide with Veterans Day, Watt’s shoe line was launched at midnight on Nov. 11, 2019.

The black and camo-colored Reebok JJ III Valor cross trainer retails at US$100 for adult sizes and US$75 for child sizes and features the Korean War stripe on the back. According to Fox 11, the detailing of the shoe also features Grandpa James Watt’s name, his division, battalion, and regiment.

Watt’s percentage of the proceeds from shoe sales will be donated to the Honor Flight Network. Additionally, as per KHOU 11, US$5 per shoe (up to US$25,000) will be donated by Reebok themselves.

As for promotion, Watt had a little help from his supportive family; the NFL star’s younger brother T.J. Watt, outside linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers, wore his brother’s latest design during the Steelers’ Nov. 10 game against the Los Angeles Rams.

The third collaboration of the Watt/Reebok shoe follows a hugely successful campaign in 2018; Watt’s Reebok JJ II Valor shoe line was launched for the benefit of the Navy SEAL Foundation; the shoe sold out three times over, and to satisfy consumer demand, Reebok restocked it three times, as per We Are the Mighty.

The shoe line is not the first time Watt has turned his focus to charitable giving. In fact, the NFL star already has a reputation for philanthropy.

In 2017, Watt raised and donated $41.6 million to help hurricane victims rebuild their lives in his adopted home town of Houston, Texas, in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. He told Sports Illustrated that the money “helped rebuild more than 1,183 homes in the Houston area.”

“More than 971 childcare centers and after school programs have also been rebuilt and recovered with the money,” he continued, “which have helped more than 108,000 kids, and over 239 million meals have been distributed to victims of the hurricane.”

So far, Watt’s latest project, the Reebok JJ III Valor shoe line, is garnering a positive response from his fans. Responding to his Facebook video, one viewer wrote, “This is so awesome. The Honor Flight is wonderful for our veterans. Love J.J. Watt. He’s a great guy.”

“You and your family are just absolutely amazing!” wrote another. “You always think of so many others before yourself. We love what you do on the field, but are more proud of everything you and your family do off of the field.

“What an awesome tribute to your grandpa and so many more veterans.”

Watt’s latest shoe line is not only helping honor veterans; it is paying homage to the people who inspire him, and millions more around the world, every day.