Derrick Deshaun Watson was born on September 14, 1995, in Gainesville, Georgia, to Deann Watson and Don Richardson. He attended Gainesville High School starting from the fall of 2010, where he played football for the school’s team, known as the Red Elephants.
Despite being a freshman, Watson secured the starting quarterback position under Gainesville’s head coach, Bruce Miller. Miller originally intended to start a junior quarterback for his spread offense, but Watson’s skills and talent earned him the starting spot, making him Miller’s first-ever freshman starting quarterback.
During his time in high school, Watson achieved remarkable success on the football field. He set numerous state records, including those for total yards, total touchdowns, career passing yards, and career passing touchdowns. Additionally, he rushed for over 4,000 yards and scored 63 touchdowns. Watson’s junior year was particularly impressive, as he led Gainesville to win a state championship and received several accolades, including Junior All-American, 2014 Player to Watch, and 2014 Top 100 Recruit. Throughout his sophomore and senior years, Watson continued to lead Gainesville to the state semifinals, further showcasing his talent and leadership abilities.
Deshaun Watson’s NFL Journey:
Deshaun Watson signed a four-year contract with the Texans after being drafted in 2017. He made his NFL debut against the Jacksonville Jaguars and threw his first touchdown pass. Watson’s first start came against the Cincinnati Bengals, where he led the Texans to a 13-9 victory. However, his rookie season ended early due to an ACL injury in November 2017.
Returning from injury in 2018, Watson showed strong performance. In 2019, he had his best season yet, with career-high stats in passing yards, touchdowns, and rushing yards. He earned his first Pro Bowl selection in January 2019. In 2020, Watson led the NFL in passing yards, despite his team’s struggles.
Watson extended his contract with the Texans until 2025. However, in 2021, his career was overshadowed by allegations of sexual misconduct, with 22 lawsuits filed against him. Despite requesting a trade from the Texans before the allegations, he did not play a single game in the 2021 season.
In March 2022, Watson was traded to the Cleveland Browns. By then, he was facing 24 lawsuits, of which he settled 20 in June 2022. While the terms of the settlements are confidential, the NFL is conducting its investigation, and Watson might face suspension in the 2022 season.
Deshaun Watson Awards and Honors:
– Deshaun Watson shares the record for the most passing touchdowns in a single game by a rookie quarterback with 5. This achievement is tied with Ray Buivid, Matthew Stafford, Jameis Winston, and Daniel Jones.
–He holds the record for the most passing touchdowns in a calendar month by a rookie quarterback, with an impressive total of 16.
–Deshaun Watson shares the record for the most passing touchdowns by a rookie quarterback in one half with 4. This achievement is tied with Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston and occurred during Week 5 of the 2017 season.
–He became the first player in NFL history to pass for over 400 yards, throw 4 or more touchdown passes, and rush for over 50 yards in a single game. This remarkable feat was achieved during Week 8 of the 2017 season.
–Deshaun Watson holds the record for the longest streak of games with 3 or more passing touchdowns by a rookie in NFL history, totaling 4 consecutive games.
–He also holds the records for the most completions (28) and attempts (33, tied with Jared Goff) with a perfect passer rating.
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