NFL star TJ Watt and wife Dani detail traumatic birth of their daughter Blakely: 'We went through hell and back'

NFL star TJ Watt and his wife Dani have opened up on the life-threatening complications they encountered during the birth of their daughter. 

The Steelers pass rusher has had a busy summer after signing a lucrative new contract, shortly after welcoming his first child - Blakely Marie Watt - with his wife. 

However, the couple have now lifted the lid on their child's birth and revealed the stressful situation which they found themselves in. 

In an interview with Graham Bensinger, Watt explained that, during the birth, doctors informed them that their child's heart rate was 'plummeting' and that they would need to perform an emergency C-section on Dani. 

However, Dani had previously explained that she did not want a belly birth and found herself in difficult position. In response, Watt asked medical staff to leave the room. 

Dani explained: 'I was very set on what I wanted… I did not want a belly birth, a C-section. 

'And to have it come down to that, after doing all the things that I did to get there, all the prep work, all the labor, and then to get to a point that it's no longer in my control – I got emotional. 

'So he asked everyone to clear the room. They were kind of taken back by that. They were like, ‘We need to go now.’ But literally they cleared the room, we took a couple deep breaths together, he kissed me and they wheeled me into the OR.' 

Watt explained: 'It's so intense. The moment is just like, holy crap, we're in 2025 and this is still like life or death – it feels like in that moment. 

'I mean, people have died from having C-sections.' 

The Steelers star was then asked whether he was concerned over his wife's wellbeing at the time. He explained: 'Absolutely… We never truly had the conversation like, ‘If I had to choose you’ or ‘if I had to choose myself or the baby,’ for her. 

'And thankfully she was able to have a successful surgery and I was able to be there with her behind the curtain… And that was a success. And to be able to see this human being that is half of me, half of her, is incredible.

Dani continued: 'I am so grateful for the way it went because of the way that we fell in love with each other all over again – times a million I think. 

'And obviously we got Blakely at the end of it… We went through hell and back in a few hours I think. And so we've been tested many times before in our relationship with distance and hardships and injuries and all that stuff, but that was different'.

Watt then said: 'I wouldn't have wanted it to go any other way, as selfish as it sounds, because I didn't go through the pain. But that's brought us the best thing that's ever happened to us in Blakely. 

'And it's brought us so much closer together – to see [Dani] go through that pain and suffering to sacrifice so much for us and our family is the most selfless thing that you could possibly do'.

In the end, it all worked out for the couple and now they are preparing for another season with the Steelers after Watt put pen-to-paper on a new deal. 

Watt, 30, skipped OTAs and minicamp as he sought a new deal, and was even linked with a shock trade out of Pittsburgh.

However, the four-time All-Pro is going nowhere after signing a three-year, $123million deal with the team according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

The contract also includes $108million guaranteed.

Watt is set to earn just over $21million this season in the last year of his previous contract. 

The Steelers star is the younger brother of former Texans defensive end JJ Watt, who congratulated his brother after on X.