Abercrombie & Fitch has tapped a couple of famous faces to codesign the newest collection of its functional activewear brand, Your Personal Best (YPB): Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker TJ Watt and his wife, former professional soccer player Dani Watt.

The new partnership marks the first collaboration the company has done for YPB. There will be three drops for both men and women: fall, which launches Thursday, followed by spring and summer 2026. The men’s fall collection will include shorts, T-shirts, tanks and hoodies while the women’s assortment will also offer leggings, sports bras and sweatshirts. Prices will range from $29 to $90.

Cary Collins Krug, chief marketing officer of Abercrombie & Fitch, said YPB was launched in 2022 in response to customer demand for functional activewear. “At that point, we were providing them with everything they needed for their long weekend, except active. YPB was created with a simple idea in mind, which is that activewear should perform just as well as it looks. I think we’ve found that sweet spot where style, quality and value all come together. YPB not only delivers on these promises but also embodies the comfort and attention to detail our customers have come to expect from A&F.”

In the past three years, she said, the company has seen “a positive response” to the collection across both genders and the partnership with the Watts is expected to “accelerate our reach and underscore the performance attributes of the collection,” she added. “Bringing partnerships like this one with TJ and Dani strengthens our credibility in the industry, and we’re excited about the impact it will create.”

Since 2022, A&F has also had a partnership with the NFL. It started out small, with a focus on fleece and T-shirts, and has since expanded to include sweaters, outerwear and hats for all 32 teams. So partnering with a pro player “plays a part in the larger A&F brand story by driving new customer growth and strong customer retention that will help continue to propel the brand forward,” Krug said.

TJ Watt appeared in the ads for the collection last year, which opened up a line of dialogue about a deeper relationship. “Our relationship started with our NFL partnership and has grown beyond that because of his genuine passion for the YPB product and the Abercrombie brand as a whole,” Krug said. “As we continued the conversation, it became clear how much insight he had to offer and just how passionate he is about constantly pushing himself to the next level,” Krug said.

TJ Watt, who had at one time been a Reebok ambassador, said the YPB collection “truly aligns with where I’m at in my life, both on and off the field, as far as athletic performance.” He credited his wife with being the catalyst to this relationship. “Dani is a huge fan of Abercrombie and bought some YPB products for me to try, and I was really impressed with the quality, practicality and versatility of it all. It’s activewear that can be used before, during and after training.”

He said he wears the collection to run errands, go to work and train, citing the SweatWik technology that allows him to work out when it’s extremely hot. He also pointed to the NeoKnit Max shorts as his favorite piece. “It’s a sweatpant short that has deep pockets, very comfortable, and you can wear them all year long. There’s a Steve Jobs quote where he says he wore the same thing to work every day so he wouldn’t have to focus on choosing his outfits. I’m very much the same way. I wear the same thing to work every day because once I get there, I’m usually in Steelers gear all day.”

TJ Watt said he was flattered that the A&F design team valued his input since this was the first time he’d dabbled in design. “I was able to test out a couple different tank prototypes during a workout, and I noticed one of them had extra fabric hanging over the shoulder and I kept naturally reaching to roll it under. I talked to the design team after and told them, ‘Hey, I think we should cut the fabric much closer,’ which is something that seemed very practical to me. Growing up, I used to cut my shirts all the time, so to be able to have a tank top that’s already cut to fit is much nicer and feels great.”

He added: “Another thing that was important to me was the pockets. I really enjoy having pockets because on my way to workouts, I put my phone, keys and wallet in there. Half the time you put on other brands and the pockets aren’t deep enough – everything falls out. So, it was a priority for me to have deeper pockets in this collection to fit everything I carry, and they’re awesome.”

He said his wife provided her insight for the women’s pieces. “Being able to do this alongside my wife has been absolutely incredible,” he said, adding: “We’ll be taking any feedback into consideration as we begin the design process on the next capsule.”

Turning to his other job, TJ Watt said he’s feeling good about the Steelers’ chances this year. The team just added 41-year-old quarterback Aaron Rogers to its roster, leading to some mixed reactions from fans and followers. While Watt wouldn’t offer his opinion on Rogers specifically, he said: “I’m feeling good about the new season. So much has changed since last season — I codesigned this collection and I became a father to a baby girl. I’m in a good headspace and ready to take on anything.”