JJ Watt’s Go-To Fast Food Order Is a Midwestern Classic

We can get behind this meal.

While our favorite NFL players are at training camp gearing up for the first pre-season games of the year, the beloved retired players are still soaking up the last bit of summer fun. Even as the current players are hitting the field, this off-season has been all about the retired brothers of active players.

We’re so used to seeing former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce enjoying retirement at the Paris Olympics and starting new business ventures—like buying Garage Beer with his brother Travis Kelce—but he’s not the only ex-footballer waiting for his broadcasting day job to start back up. Former Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals defensive end JJ Watt seems to be spending his vacation at a particular fast food restaurant: Culver’s.

The “NFL Today” host and Wisconsin native has often shared his love for the Midwestern chain throughout his career.

“A Culver’s is being built right next to the training facility here in AZ... Makes me feel right at home. #Wisconsin,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter) in 2011.

JJ Watt's Go-To Fast Food Order

Now, Watt is teaming up with Culver’s for the JJ’s Way meal, which features all of the former Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year’s favorite foods from the chain.

“I’ve been eating at Culver’s since I was a little kid. I’ve tried everything on the menu, I’ve tried every combination, this, after 35 years, is what I’ve come up with as my favorite order,” Watt said in a video. “I eat at Culver’s so much that they named a meal after me.”

Watt’s favorite fast food order includes a Culver’s Deluxe—which has two signature ButterBurger patties topped with Wisconsin cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, red onion, and mayo—Wisconsin cheese curds, root beer, and a turtle sundae—made with chocolate custard, hot fudge, caramel, and a maraschino cherry.

The love for this particular Culver's order seems to run in the Watt family—just like football. JJ's brother, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker TJ Watt, shared his Culver's order in a 2021 interview with "Barstool Sports."

"I get a double deluxe burger—with ketchup because they don't put ketchup on it. Then I get cheese curds. My fiancée gets ranch. I get marinara sauce. Then I usually do two scoops of chocolate custard in a dish," TJ said.

If you don't want to take two future Hall of Famers' word for just how great the fast food chain is, we asked four chefs to choose the best fast food restaurant, and—spoiler alert—they said Culver's.

The JJ's Way meal is available nationwide at Culver's restaurants through Sept. 29.

With this partnership announcement, you know what that means: It's time to start stocking up on those special NFL Bud Light cans and your favorite tailgate food because football is officially back.

Read the original article on All Recipes.