Deshaun Watson facts for kids
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Watson with the Cleveland Browns in 2023
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| No. 4 – Cleveland Browns | |||||||||||||||||
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| Position: | Quarterback | ||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
| Born: | September 14, 1995 Gainesville, Georgia, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 223 lb (101 kg) | ||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||
| High school: | Gainesville | ||||||||||||||||
| College: | Clemson (2014–2016) | ||||||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2017 / Round: 1 / Pick: 12 | ||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||||||
Derrick Deshaun Watson (born September 14, 1995) is an American professional football quarterback for the Cleveland Browns in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Clemson Tigers. He led his college team to a national championship in 2016. The Houston Texans picked Watson in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft.
After a good rookie season that was cut short by injury, Watson helped the Texans win their division twice. He led the league in passing yards in 2020. He was also chosen for the Pro Bowl three times. He is currently one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history for completion percentage and career passer rating.
In 2021, Watson faced personal conduct matters. These issues, along with disagreements with the Texans, kept him from playing the entire 2021 season. This eventually led to a trade to the Browns in 2022. With Cleveland, Watson signed a five-year contract worth $230 million. This was one of the largest contracts in NFL history at the time. As a result of the personal conduct matters, Watson was suspended for part of the 2022 season.
Contents
Early Life and High School Football
Watson was born in Gainesville, Georgia, on September 14, 1995. He went to Gainesville High School starting in 2010. He played for the school's Red Elephants football team. His coach, Bruce Miller, planned to start an older player at quarterback. However, Watson, as a freshman, won the starting spot. He was the first freshman quarterback Miller had ever started.
During his high school career, Watson set many state records. These included records for total yards (17,134) and total touchdowns (218). He also set records for career passing yards (13,077) and career passing touchdowns (155). He ran for 4,057 yards and 63 touchdowns. In his junior year, Watson won a state championship. He was named a Junior All-American. He also led Gainesville to the state semifinals in his sophomore and senior years.
Many colleges offered Watson scholarships. He decided to commit to Clemson University in 2012. ESPN 300 ranked him as the top quarterback recruit for the 2014 class.
College Football Journey
Freshman Year Highlights
Watson started at Clemson in January 2014. He wore number 4 in high school. At Clemson, this number was retired. But former quarterback Steve Fuller allowed Watson to wear it. Watson began as a backup quarterback. However, he played a lot of games. He completed many passes with no interceptions. Watson became the Tigers' starting quarterback on September 21.
In his first start, Watson set a school record. He threw six touchdown passes and 435 yards. Clemson won the game 50–35. Later, Watson broke a bone in his right hand. This made him miss several games. He returned but then strained his knee. He played one game with a torn ACL in his left knee. He had surgery on his knee before Clemson's bowl game.
Sophomore Year Success
In 2015, Watson led Clemson to a perfect 12–0 regular season. They were ranked #1. The Tigers then played in the 2015 ACC Championship Game. They faced #10 North Carolina. Watson threw for 289 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for 131 yards and two touchdowns. Clemson won 45–37, their first ACC championship since 2011. Watson was named the game's MVP.
Clemson was chosen for the 2016 College Football Playoff as the #1 seed. They played #4 Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. Watson threw for 189 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 145 yards and a touchdown. Clemson won 37–17, and Watson was named game MVP.
The Tigers then played in the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship game. They faced #2 Alabama. Clemson lost 45–40. Watson threw for 405 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for 73 yards. He set a record for most total yards in a national championship game with 478 yards. He was the first college player to pass for over 4,000 yards and rush for over 1,000 yards in one season.
Watson was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. This award goes to the best college football player. He finished third, the highest for a Clemson player ever. He won the Davey O'Brien Award as the top college quarterback. He was also named ACC Player of the Year.
Junior Year and National Championship
Watson started his junior season well. He had 248 passing yards in a win over Auburn. On October 1, he threw for 306 yards and five touchdowns against Louisville. He also had 378 passing yards and two touchdowns against Florida State. On November 26, he passed for 347 yards and six touchdowns against South Carolina.
In 2016, Watson won the Davey O'Brien Award for the second year in a row. He also won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. He was the first player to win the Manning Award twice. For the second year, Watson was a Heisman Trophy candidate. He finished second to Lamar Jackson.
Clemson beat Ohio State 31–0 in the CFP semifinal. Watson was the offensive MVP. Then, Clemson beat #1 Alabama 35–31 in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship. Watson completed 36 passes for 420 yards and three touchdowns. He threw the game-winning pass with seconds left. He also rushed for 43 yards and a touchdown. This win was Clemson's second national championship. Watson was named the game's offensive MVP.
On November 8, 2016, Watson decided to enter the NFL draft. In December, he graduated from Clemson with a degree in communications.
College Statistics
| Season | Games | Passing | Rushing | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Comp | Att | Pct | Yards | Avg | TD | Int | Rate | Att | Yards | Avg | TD | ||
| Clemson Tigers | ||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | 8 | 5 | 4−1 | 93 | 137 | 67.9 | 1,466 | 10.7 | 14 | 2 | 188.6 | 63 | 200 | 3.2 | 5 | |
| 2015 | 15 | 15 | 14−1 | 333 | 491 | 67.8 | 4,109 | 8.4 | 35 | 13 | 156.3 | 207 | 1,105 | 5.3 | 12 | |
| 2016 | 15 | 15 | 14−1 | 388 | 579 | 67.0 | 4,593 | 7.9 | 41 | 17 | 151.1 | 165 | 629 | 3.8 | 9 | |
| Career | 38 | 35 | 32−3 | 814 | 1,207 | 67.4 | 10,168 | 8.4 | 90 | 32 | 157.5 | 435 | 1,934 | 4.4 | 26 | |
Professional Football Career
Joining the Houston Texans
Most scouts and analysts thought Watson would be a first-round pick. Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Focus, and ESPN ranked him as the top quarterback. The Houston Texans drafted Watson 12th overall in the 2017 NFL draft. They traded up to get this pick. Watson was the third quarterback chosen in that draft.
On May 12, 2017, the Texans signed Watson to a four-year contract. It was worth $13.84 million. Watson played his first regular-season game on September 10, 2017. He threw his first NFL touchdown pass in that game. He made his first career start on his 22nd birthday, September 14. He had 125 passing yards and a 49-yard rushing touchdown. The Texans won 13–9.
In Week 4, Watson had a great game. He threw for 283 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for a touchdown. His five total scores tied an NFL rookie record. He was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week. In Week 8, Watson threw for over 400 yards. He had 402 passing yards and four touchdowns. He threw 16 touchdowns in October, setting an NFL rookie record. He was named AFC Offensive Player of the Month.
On November 2, Watson tore his ACL during practice. This ended his rookie season early. In seven games, Watson had 1,699 passing yards and 19 touchdowns. He also rushed for 269 yards and two touchdowns. He had surgery on his knee on November 8. Watson was ranked 50th by other players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2018 list. He was also named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
Leading the Texans (2018-2020)
In 2018, Watson returned from his injury. He threw for 176 yards in the first game. Later, he played a game after suffering broken ribs and a partially collapsed lung. He took a 12-hour bus ride to the game to avoid flying. The next week, Watson tied his career high with five touchdowns.
Watson finished the 2018 season with 4,165 passing yards and 26 touchdowns. He also had 551 rushing yards and 5 rushing touchdowns. Houston won the AFC South title with an 11–5 record. Watson was sacked 62 times, one of the most in a single season.
In his first playoff game, the Texans lost to the Indianapolis Colts. Watson completed 29 passes for 235 yards. On January 21, 2019, Watson was chosen for his first Pro Bowl. He was ranked 51st on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2019 list.
In 2019, Watson had another strong season. In Week 3, he threw for 351 yards and three touchdowns. He was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week. Two weeks later, he threw for 426 yards and five touchdowns. He had a perfect passer rating in a 53–32 win. This earned him his second Player of the Week award. In Week 13, he threw for 234 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught a touchdown pass. This was his third Player of the Week award. Watson helped the Texans to a 10–6 record and another AFC South title. He finished the season with 3,852 passing yards and 26 passing touchdowns. He also had 413 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns.
In the playoffs, Watson led the Texans to a comeback win against the Buffalo Bills. They were down 16–0 but won 22–19 in overtime. He sealed the game with a key play in overtime. In the next round, the Texans lost to the Chiefs. Watson threw for 388 yards and two touchdowns.
On September 5, 2020, Watson signed a four-year, $177.5 million contract extension. This was one of the largest contracts in NFL history at the time. In Week 11, Watson threw for 344 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for another touchdown. He earned the AFC Offensive Player of the Week award. In Week 12, he passed for 318 yards and four touchdowns.
Watson finished the 2020 season with a league-leading 4,823 passing yards. He also had 33 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. This was his best season statistically. He became the first player to lead the league in passing yards on a team with at least 12 losses since 1997.
Moving to the Cleveland Browns
After the 2020 season, Watson wanted to be traded from the Texans. This was due to changes in the team's management and coaching. He also faced personal conduct matters. These issues led to a standoff with the team. Watson was on the Texans' roster in 2021 but did not play any games. This was for "non-injury reasons/personal matter."
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On March 18, 2022, Watson was traded to the Cleveland Browns. The Browns gave up several draft picks for him. As part of the trade, Watson signed a new five-year, $230 million contract. This was the largest fully guaranteed contract in NFL history at the time.
Due to the personal conduct matters, Watson was suspended for the first 11 games of the 2022 regular season. He was also fined $5 million. He was allowed to participate in preseason activities.
On November 28, 2022, Watson returned from his suspension. In Week 13, he started against his former team, the Texans. He threw for 131 yards and one interception in a 27–14 win. Watson finished the 2022 season with a 3–3 record as a starter. He had 1,102 passing yards, 7 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. His passer rating of 79.1 was the lowest of his career.
In Week 10 of the 2023 season, Watson suffered a shoulder injury. He finished the game but later needed surgery. The Browns announced on November 15 that Watson would miss the rest of the 2023 season. He finished the season starting in six games. He had seven touchdowns and four interceptions, with 1,115 passing yards. Watson had surgery on November 21. He was expected to recover before the 2024 NFL season.
In Week 1 of the 2024 season, Watson threw for 169 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. He was sacked six times in a 33–17 loss. Through five games, Watson struggled. He had a low QBR and did not pass for over 200 yards in any game. The Browns had a 1–4 record. On October 20, Watson suffered a non-contact leg injury. The next day, it was confirmed to be an Achilles tear. This forced him to miss the rest of the 2024 season. Watson had Achilles surgery on October 25. With Watson at quarterback, the Browns had a 1–6 record.
On January 9, 2025, Watson had surgery again. He suffered a re-rupture to his right Achilles tendon. This injury could keep him out for the entire 2025 season.
NFL Career Statistics
| Legend | |
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| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
Regular Season
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | Sacks | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
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| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Sck | SckY | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2017 | HOU | 7 | 6 | 3–3 | 126 | 204 | 61.8 | 1,699 | 8.3 | 72 | 19 | 8 | 103.0 | 36 | 269 | 7.5 | 49 | 2 | 19 | 116 | 3 | 1 |
| 2018 | HOU | 16 | 16 | 11–5 | 345 | 505 | 68.3 | 4,165 | 8.2 | 73 | 26 | 9 | 103.1 | 99 | 551 | 5.6 | 34 | 5 | 62 | 384 | 9 | 3 |
| 2019 | HOU | 15 | 15 | 10–5 | 333 | 495 | 67.3 | 3,852 | 7.8 | 54 | 26 | 12 | 98.0 | 82 | 413 | 5.0 | 30 | 7 | 44 | 257 | 10 | 3 |
| 2020 | HOU | 16 | 16 | 4–12 | 382 | 544 | 70.2 | 4,823 | 8.9 | 77 | 33 | 7 | 112.4 | 90 | 444 | 4.9 | 16 | 3 | 49 | 293 | 8 | 3 |
| 2021 | HOU | 0 | 0 | — | DNP | |||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | CLE | 6 | 6 | 3–3 | 99 | 170 | 58.2 | 1,102 | 6.5 | 46 | 7 | 5 | 79.1 | 36 | 175 | 4.9 | 21 | 1 | 20 | 106 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | CLE | 6 | 6 | 5–1 | 105 | 171 | 61.4 | 1,115 | 6.5 | 59 | 7 | 4 | 84.3 | 26 | 142 | 5.5 | 16 | 1 | 17 | 85 | 5 | 2 |
| 2024 | CLE | 7 | 7 | 1–6 | 137 | 216 | 63.4 | 1,148 | 5.3 | 35 | 5 | 3 | 79.0 | 31 | 148 | 4.8 | 16 | 1 | 33 | 191 | 5 | 3 |
| Career | 73 | 72 | 37–35 | 1,527 | 2,305 | 66.2 | 17,904 | 7.8 | 77 | 123 | 48 | 98.8 | 400 | 2,142 | 5.4 | 49 | 20 | 244 | 1,432 | 41 | 15 | |
Postseason
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | Sacks | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Sck | SckY | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2018 | HOU | 1 | 1 | 0–1 | 29 | 49 | 59.2 | 235 | 4.8 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 69.7 | 8 | 76 | 9.5 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | HOU | 2 | 2 | 1–1 | 51 | 77 | 66.2 | 635 | 8.2 | 54 | 3 | 0 | 104.6 | 20 | 92 | 4.6 | 20 | 2 | 11 | 54 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | CLE | 0 | 0 | — | Did not play due to injury | |||||||||||||||||
| Career | 3 | 3 | 1–2 | 80 | 126 | 63.5 | 870 | 6.9 | 54 | 4 | 1 | 91.0 | 28 | 168 | 6.0 | 21 | 2 | 14 | 72 | 1 | 0 | |
Records and Achievements
NFL Records
- Most passing touchdowns in a single game by a rookie quarterback: 5 (tied with others)
- Most passing touchdowns in a calendar month by a rookie quarterback: 16
- Most passing touchdowns by a rookie quarterback in one half: 4 (tied with others)
- First player in NFL history to pass for 400+ yards, throw 4+ TD passes, and rush for 50+ yards in a single game.
- Longest streak of games with 3 or more passing touchdowns by a rookie in NFL history: 4
- Most completions with a perfect passer rating: 28
- Most attempts with a perfect passer rating: 33 (tied with Jared Goff)
Texans Team Records
- Most consecutive games with a touchdown pass: 20
- Most passing yards in a game by a rookie: 402 (October 19, 2017, vs Seattle Seahawks)
- Highest passer rating in a season: 112.4
- First rookie quarterback with 3+ touchdown passes in a game
- First rookie quarterback to throw for 300+ yards
- First quarterback to score touchdowns (one passing, one rushing) in his first two games
- First quarterback to record 300+ passing yards and 40+ rushing yards in a single game (Week 3, 2017)
- Most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback: 17
Personal Life
Watson is a Christian. In 2006, when Watson was 11, Atlanta Falcons running back Warrick Dunn helped his family. Dunn's charity, Homes for the Holidays, gave Watson's family a home. In 2017, Watson donated his first NFL game check, about $27,000. He gave it to three cafeteria employees at NRG Stadium who were affected by Hurricane Harvey.
External Links
- Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · ESPN · CBS Sports · Yahoo! Sports · Pro Football Reference
- Cleveland Browns bio
- Clemson Tigers bio
See also
In Spanish: Deshaun Watson para niños
