History of Deshaun Watson in Timeline
Deshaun Watson is an American football quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. He rose to prominence playing college football for Clemson University, leading them to a national championship victory in 2016. His exceptional talent led to him being drafted in the first round by the Houston Texans in 2017. He later joined the Cleveland Browns.
1961: Fran Tarkenton's Achievement
In 1961, Fran Tarkenton became the first rookie to pass for at least four touchdowns and rush for one touchdown in a game. This record stood until Deshaun Watson equaled it in 2017.
September 14, 1995: Birth of Deshaun Watson
Deshaun Watson was born on September 14, 1995, in Gainesville, Georgia.
1997: Jeff George's Passing Title
In 1997, Jeff George of the Oakland Raiders led the NFL in passing yards despite his team having a losing record. Deshaun Watson achieved a similar feat in 2020 with the Houston Texans.
2002: Texans Quarterback Recognition
In 2002, David Carr became the first Texans quarterback to be named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team. Deshaun Watson became the second Texans quarterback to receive this honor in 2018.
2003: Jason White Wins First Davey O'Brien Award
Jason White's first Davey O'Brien Award win occurred in 2003.
2004: Jason White Wins Second Davey O'Brien Award
Jason White won his second consecutive Davey O'Brien Award in 2004.
2006: Receives Home Donation
In 2006, when Deshaun Watson was 11 years old, his family received a home donation from former NFL player Warrick Dunn's charity, Homes for the Holidays, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity.
2010: Deshaun Watson Attends Gainesville High School
Deshaun Watson began attending Gainesville High School in the fall of 2010 and played for the school's football team, the Red Elephants. He became the starting quarterback as a freshman.
2011: Clemson's Previous ACC Championship Win
The 2015 ACC Championship victory marked Clemson's first since 2011.
February 1, 2012: Deshaun Watson Commits to Clemson University
Deshaun Watson verbally committed to Clemson University on February 1, 2012, to play college football.
January 2014: Deshaun Watson Enrolls at Clemson University
Deshaun Watson enrolled at Clemson University in January 2014 and began his college football career. He was allowed to wear the retired number 4 by former Clemson quarterback Steve Fuller.
October 11, 2014: Deshaun Watson Suffers Hand Injury
Deshaun Watson broke a bone in his right hand during a game against the Louisville Cardinals on October 11, 2014. This injury sidelined him for several games. Later in the season, he played a game with a torn ACL in his left knee.
2014: Deshaun Watson's Stellar Junior Year at Gainesville High
In 2014, during his junior year at Gainesville High School, Deshaun Watson won a state championship and earned accolades such as Junior All-American, 2014 Player to Watch, and 2014 Top 100 Recruit.
2014: Deshaun Watson Ranked Top Quarterback Recruit
Deshaun Watson was ranked as the top quarterback recruit for the 2014 class by ESPN 300.
2015: Deshaun Watson Named Heisman Trophy Finalist
Deshaun Watson was named a finalist for the 2015 Heisman Trophy, the first Clemson player to achieve this honor. He finished third in the voting. He also won the Davey O'Brien Award, ACC Player of the Year, and ACC Offensive Player of the Year.
2015: Clemson Wins ACC Championship
In 2015, Deshaun Watson led Clemson to an undefeated regular season and their first ACC championship since 2011. He was named the ACC Championship Game MVP.
November 8, 2016: Deshaun Watson Declares for NFL Draft
On November 8, 2016, Deshaun Watson declared for the NFL draft alongside three Clemson teammates.
2016: Clemson Competes in National Championship, Watson Makes History
Clemson, led by Deshaun Watson, played in the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship game against Alabama, ultimately losing 45-40. Despite the loss, Watson set the record for most total yards in a national championship game (478). He also became the first player in college football history to pass for over 4,000 yards and rush for over 1,000 yards in the same season.
2016: Clemson Tigers Win National Championship
Deshaun Watson led the Clemson Tigers to a national championship victory in 2016.
2016: Deshaun Watson Wins Multiple Awards, Named Heisman Candidate Again
Deshaun Watson won the Davey O'Brien Award for the second consecutive year in 2016, becoming the first player to do so since Jason White in 2003-2004. He also won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and the Manning Award. He was again a Heisman Trophy candidate but finished second to Lamar Jackson.
2016: Clemson Advances to College Football Playoff
In 2016, Clemson was selected for the College Football Playoff as the #1 seed. They won the Orange Bowl semifinal against Oklahoma, with Deshaun Watson earning game MVP honors.
May 12, 2017: Contract Signing and Regular Season Debut
On May 12, 2017, Deshaun Watson signed a four-year contract with the Houston Texans. He made his NFL debut later that year in the season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars, coming in at halftime to replace Tom Savage.
2017: Clemson Wins National Championship, Deshaun Watson Shines
Clemson defeated Alabama 35-31 in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship game, securing their second national championship. Deshaun Watson was named the offensive MVP after throwing the game-winning touchdown pass.
2017: Charitable Donation
Deshaun Watson donated his first NFL game check, approximately $27,000, to support NRG Stadium cafeteria employees who were affected by Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
2017: Deshaun Watson Drafted by Houston Texans
Deshaun Watson was selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft by the Houston Texans.
2017: NFL Draft Selection
In 2017, the Houston Texans selected Deshaun Watson as the 12th overall pick in the NFL Draft. The Texans traded up with the Cleveland Browns to acquire this pick.
2018: Trade for Draft Picks
The Houston Texans traded their 25th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft and their first-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for the 12th overall pick, which they used to select Deshaun Watson.
2018: Season-Ending Injury and Recognition
Deshaun Watson's rookie season was cut short due to a torn ACL sustained during practice in 2018. Despite this, he received recognition for his performance, ranking 50th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2018 list.
2018: Houston Texans Win Division Title
Deshaun Watson led the Houston Texans to a division title in 2018.
January 21, 2019: First Pro Bowl Selection
Deshaun Watson was named to his first Pro Bowl on January 21, 2019, as a replacement for Tom Brady.
2019: Houston Texans Win Second Consecutive Division Title
Deshaun Watson led the Houston Texans to their second consecutive division title in 2019.
March 2020: Alleged Sexual Misconduct Incident
The first alleged sexual misconduct incident involving Deshaun Watson and a massage therapist reportedly took place in March 2020. This incident led to a civil lawsuit filed against Watson in March 2021.
April 28, 2020: Contract Extension
On April 28, 2020, the Houston Texans exercised the fifth-year option on Deshaun Watson's contract. This ensured he would remain with the team through the 2021 season.
August 2020: Second Massage Therapist Alleges Misconduct
In August 2020, another massage therapist accused Deshaun Watson of sexual misconduct during a session at the Houstonian Hotel. She claimed that Watson had exposed himself and made inappropriate requests.
December 2020: Third Lawsuit and NFL Investigation
A third civil lawsuit was filed against Deshaun Watson in March 2021, alleging that he had forced a massage therapist to perform oral sex on him in December 2020. The NFL also announced an investigation into the allegations against Watson.
December 2020: COVID-19 Protocol Fine
In December 2020, Deshaun Watson was fined $7,500 by the Houston Texans for violating the NFL's COVID-19 protocols. He and several teammates gathered at the opening of his restaurant without wearing masks.
2020: Deshaun Watson Leads NFL in Passing Yards
Deshaun Watson led the NFL in passing yards in 2020.
2020: Record-Breaking Season and Trade Request
Deshaun Watson led the league in passing yards in 2020, a notable feat considering his team's struggles. He also requested a trade after the season due to dissatisfaction with the team's management.
2020: Trade Request and Off-field Issues
Following the 2020 season, Deshaun Watson requested a trade from the Houston Texans. This coincided with the emergence of sexual harassment allegations against him.
March 16, 2021: First Sexual Assault Lawsuit Filed
On March 16, 2021, a massage therapist filed a civil lawsuit against Deshaun Watson, alleging that he had touched her inappropriately and made unwanted sexual advances during a massage session in March 2020. Watson denied the allegations.
April 7, 2021: Endorsement Deals Suspended
On April 7, 2021, following the sexual assault allegations, Nike and Beats By Dre suspended their endorsement deals with Deshaun Watson. Other companies, including Reliant Energy and H-E-B, stated that they would not be engaging with Watson in the future.
2021: Sexual Misconduct Lawsuits Filed Against Deshaun Watson
In 2021, multiple lawsuits alleging sexual harassment and assault were filed against Deshaun Watson by female massage therapists. These allegations led to disagreements with the Texans' front office and Watson sitting out the entire 2021 season.
2021: Absence from Games
Despite not facing formal suspension by the NFL, Deshaun Watson did not play any games for the Houston Texans in 2021. This absence was attributed to "non-injury reasons/personal matter," largely due to his ongoing legal situation and trade request.
March 11, 2022: Grand Jury Declines to Indict
On March 11, 2022, a grand jury decided not to indict Deshaun Watson on criminal charges related to the sexual misconduct allegations. However, he still faced numerous civil lawsuits.
March 18, 2022: Trade to Cleveland and Record Contract
On March 18, 2022, Deshaun Watson was traded to the Cleveland Browns. As part of the trade, he signed a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract, setting a new record for guaranteed money in an NFL contract.
August 1, 2022: Civil Lawsuits Settled
By August 1, 2022, Deshaun Watson had settled all but one of the 22 civil lawsuits filed against him alleging sexual misconduct and assault.
August 18, 2022: Settlement and Suspension Length
On August 18, 2022, the NFL and the NFL Players Association reached a settlement in the Deshaun Watson disciplinary case. Watson was suspended for 11 games and fined $5 million.
November 28, 2022: Return to Play
After serving his 11-game suspension, Deshaun Watson returned to NFL action on November 28, 2022. He made his debut for the Cleveland Browns against his former team, the Houston Texans.
2022: Suspension and Appeal
Deshaun Watson was suspended for six games of the 2022 NFL season following an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment. The NFL appealed the decision, seeking a longer suspension.
2022: Deshaun Watson Traded to Cleveland Browns
Following the sexual misconduct lawsuits and disagreements with the Texans, Deshaun Watson was traded to the Cleveland Browns in 2022, where he signed a five-year, $230 million contract.
2023: Shoulder Injury and Surgery
During the 2023 NFL season, Deshaun Watson suffered a displaced fracture in his right shoulder during a game against the Baltimore Ravens. Despite finishing the game, the injury resulted in season-ending surgery for Watson.
2023: Draft Pick Compensation (Continued)
In addition to the first-round picks, the Houston Texans also obtained a third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and fourth-round picks in 2022 and 2024 as part of the trade for Deshaun Watson.
January 2024: Deshaun Watson's Career Statistics
As of January 2024, Deshaun Watson ranks ninth in career completion percentage (minimum 1,500 attempts) and third in all-time career passer rating.
2024: Draft Pick Compensation
As part of the trade that sent Deshaun Watson to the Cleveland Browns, the Texans received significant draft pick compensation. This included first-round picks in 2022, 2023, and 2024, as well as other draft assets.
2024: Expected Recovery
Deshaun Watson is expected to fully recover from his shoulder surgery before the start of the 2024 NFL season.
2025: Long-Term Contract with Texans
Deshaun Watson signed a four-year, $177.5 million contract extension with the Houston Texans. This deal, agreed upon in 2020, was designed to keep Watson with the Texans through the 2025 season.