"No athlete has done this before," MMQB football writer Robert Klemko said in an NFL Network interview.
The Texans defensive end spearheaded a campaign that wound up raising over $37 million for Hurricane Harvey relief. Americares, Feeding America, SBP and Save the Children are the four organizations that will benefit from the money, which will help rebuild homes, restore child-care centers, provide food, and address health and medical needs.
Houston Astros second baseman and 2017 American League MVP Jose Altuve shared the award with Watt.
The award was announced on the Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, and it annually goes to "athletes who care" about making the world around them a better place.