HALL OF FAME PAINTINGS

Known for his intensity, his unmistakable roar, and a presence that could send an entire stadium into a frenzy, JJ Watt gave artist Opie Otterstad plenty of emotion to work with. His painting captures Watt bursting through the Texans’ tunnel, smoke pouring from the bull’s nostrils as he raises a Texas flag and leads his teammates onto the field.

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For Otterstad, that entrance was a performance Houston fans never tired of watching. “One guy on the field where 70,000 people around him are losing their minds,” he recalled. “That’s a moment.” With Watt’s helmet off, Otterstad could capture every bit of the expression that made those entrances unforgettable.

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The Texas flag sweeping overhead reflects Watt’s tradition of running onto the field carrying a flag, with Otterstad choosing the Lone Star State’s flag as a nod to his own Texas pride. Behind Watt, DeMeco Ryans and Brian Cushing emerge through the smoke, included because even a figure as commanding as Watt needed his teammates beside him.

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“Football is a team game, and you don’t do it by yourself,” Otterstad explained.

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Look closely, and you’ll also find the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year trophy and a tribute to Watt’s three NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors, reminders of all he accomplished during a decade in Houston. Together, these details turn a familiar Texans entrance into a portrait of the player, teammate, and leader whose legacy earned him a place in the Houston Sports Hall of Fame.