Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt is joining Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning as a spokesperson for Papa John’s Pizza.
According to ESPN’s Darren Rovell, Watt used to deliver pizzas back while attending Central Michigan and Wisconsin. Watt shared this about the popular pizza-delivery chain:
“Having been in the pizza world before, I really appreciate what Papa John’s is doing with their ingredients.”
John Schnatter, the founder and chief executive of Papa John’s, spoke highly about Watt teaming up with Manning to promote their pizzas:
“We had the offensive player of the year and now we have the defensive player of the year. But as good as Peyton and J.J. are on the field, they’re better people off of it.”
Last year, Watt was the beneficiary of a promotion that Papa John’s held in Houston. For every pizza sold in the Houston area on Tuesdays, Papa John’s donated 10 percent of the proceeds to the J.J. Watt Foundation. A total of $400,000 was reportedly raised.
While Watt admitted that pizza isn’t part of his intense 9,000 calorie-a-day diet that consists mainly of eggs, chicken, bacon and avocados, it’s one of his preferred cheat foods.
At this time, Watt said he doesn’t have any initial plans to own any Papa John’s chain stores. This is quite the opposite of Manning, who acquired 21 stores when he became an endorser in 2012. Rovell notes Manning currently owns 27 Papa John’s franchises and plans to own 30 by the end of the year.