It has been over a decade since Benjamin Watson joined the National Football League (NFL). He was picked by the New England Patriots during the 2004 draft, but he’s currently plying his trade for the New Orleans Saints as a tight end. Watson has continued to prove himself in the NFL season after season, and apart from football, the Super Bowl XXXIX winner has authored good books that keep him relevant even after his football career has ended. Let’s learn more.
Benjamin Watson (bio and age)
Benjamin Watson was born in Norfolk, Virginia on 18. December 1980. Growing up, he attended Northwestern High School in Rock Hill, South Carolina, where he excelled in soccer and track and field. He was also active in high school religious activities and was a distinguished member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
As a junior, he was instrumental in developing his team’s performance in the state championship; He also did well as a senior, where he caught 31 passes for 515 yards. In track and field, the talented athlete set personal bests of 22.37 seconds in the 200 meters and 50.03 seconds in the 400 meters.
After high school, Benjamin enrolled at Duke University, where his achievements in football did not go unnoticed. He spent just a year at Duke, catching 31 passes for 93 yards with a touchdown, before transferring to the University of Georgia where he majored in finance. In his three years in Georgia, he caught 65 passes in 852 yards with 6 touchdowns.
NFL career
In the 2004 NFL Draft, Benjamin Watson was drafted 32nd overall by the New England Patriots in the first round of the draft. He signed a 6-year, $13.50 million contract with the Patriots that had a $3.81 million signing bonus. He started his NFL career with a 27-24 win over the Indianapolis Colts, where he got 2 passes for 16 yards.
He became the team’s starting last in the 2005 season and caught a season-high – four passes for 66 yards in a 24-17 win over the New Orleans Saints. He finished the season with 29 receptions for 441 yards and 4 touchdowns in 15 games, 9 of which he started. He also won Super Bowl XXXIX that season.
During his time with the franchise, he played 71 games, catching 167 passes for 2,102 yards and 20 touchdowns before signing with the Cleveland Browns as a free agent on a 3-year, $12 million contract he signed on Signed March 12, 2010.
Benjamin Watson was placed in the tight finishing position as a starter for the team and he continued his exploits with the team until 2013 when he joined the New Orleans Saints. He signed a 3-year, $4.95 million contract with the Saints in March 2013 and entered training camp as a stopgap measure. Despite having a hard time finding game time, he finished that season with 15 games, 7 of which he started with 19 receptions for 226 yards and two touchdowns.
His career with the Saints ended in 2015 when he joined the Baltimore Ravens. On March 9, 2016, he signed a two-year, $7 million contract with the Ravens and vied for a starting spot with the likes of Dennis Pitta, Crockett Gilmore and Maxx Williams. However, a torn Achilles during the side’s third preseason game meant Watson was sidelined for the remainder of the season.
He was named as a backup upon his return in 2017. A tight finish to start the regular season, but still recorded a season-high 8 receptions for 91 yards in Week 2 of 2017 against the Cleveland Browns. He spent 2 years with the Ravens and played 16 games, starting 12 with 61 receptions for 522 yards and 4 touchdowns. In 2016, he was a Bart Starr Award finalist and NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award finalist.
Benjamin Watson became a free agent after his contract with the Ravens expired, and on March 28, 2018, he relocated to the New Orleans Saints for his second stint with the franchise.
family
There is no really reliable information about Benjamin’s parents; Maybe he banned that from the media for a reason. Benjamin has a younger brother named Asa Watson who is also a tight end baller. He was signed by the New England Patriots on May 10, 2014, but was released before the start of the season.
Who is his wife – Kirsten? children
Benjamin Watson is a proud husband of KirstenVaughn Watson; She is a passionate believer in the gospel of God and has brought some really good Christian virtues into her husband’s life. She attended the University of Georgia, where their paths first crossed. They became good friends before tying the knot in 2005 at the end of Watson’s NFL rookie season.
During her undergraduate years, she was a collegiate athlete and a dedicated member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). They have 5 children together, namely 3 daughters and 2 sons; Grace Makayla and Naomi Love (twins), Judah, Isaiah and Eden Moriah Watson.
After his amazing touchdown celebration by the Los Angeles Rams on November 5, 2018, Benjamin announced that they are expecting more twins, which will grow the family from Watson Five to Watson Seven.
height and weight
There aren’t many footballers in the NFL who can boast of Benjamin’s height or body structure. He has the body and size he needs for his job. Watson is an impressive 1.93 m tall and weighs 114 kg.