55 Facts About Benjamin Watson

Benjamin Watson attended Northwestern High School in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and was a letterman in football and track.

Benjamin Watson was a member of his high school chapter of The Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

In track and field, Benjamin Watson was a standout sprinter, recording personal-best times of 22.37 seconds in the 200 meters and 50.03 seconds in the 400 meters.

Benjamin Watson played football at Duke University prior to transferring to the University of Georgia where he majored in finance.

Benjamin Watson attended the NFL combine and completed all of the combine and positional drills.

Benjamin Watson scored a 48 on the Wonderlic test, tying for the third highest score of any player in league history.

On March 18,2004, Benjamin Watson participated at Georgia's pro day, but chose to stand on his combine numbers and only performed positional drills and the 40-yard dash.

Benjamin Watson was ranked the third best tight end prospect in the draft by DraftScout.

Benjamin Watson was the second tight end drafted in 2004, after Miami's Kellen Winslow II.

Benjamin Watson held out of training camp and missed 18 days due to a contract dispute.

Head coach Bill Belichick officially named Benjamin Watson the starting tight end to begin the regular season in 2004.

Benjamin Watson returned as the Patriots' primary starting tight end in 2005.

Benjamin Watson remained inactive for their Week 15 victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Benjamin Watson finished the 2005 season with 29 receptions, 441 receiving yards, and four touchdown receptions in 15 games and nine starts.

On January 7,2006, Benjamin Watson started his first career playoff game and recorded five receptions for 91 yards and scored on a 63-yard touchdown reception as the Patriots defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC Wildcard Game.

Benjamin Watson entered the season as the Patriots' starting tight end.

Benjamin Watson finished the 2006 season with 49 receptions for 643 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 13 regular season games and 13 starts.

Benjamin Watson remained the primary starting tight end for the Patriots in 2007.

Benjamin Watson sustained an ankle injury and was inactive for two games.

Benjamin Watson was active for another two games after aggravating his sprained ankle.

Benjamin Watson finished the 2007 season with 38 receptions for 389 receiving yards and a career-high six touchdown receptions.

Benjamin Watson again started at tight end for the Patriots in 2008.

Benjamin Watson sustained a knee injury during the preseason and was sidelined for the first two regular season games.

Benjamin Watson finished the season with 22 receptions, 229 receiving yards, and 2 touchdowns in 14 games and nine starts.

Benjamin Watson's performance was limited, in part, due to an injury to Tom Brady that sidelined him for the entire season.

Benjamin Watson retained his role as the primary Patriots tight end and became the only returning tight end after the Patriots released David Thomas and signed free agents Chris Baker and Michael Matthews.

Benjamin Watson finished the 2009 season with 29 receptions for 404 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 16 games and seven starts.

Benjamin Watson became an unrestricted free agent for the first time in 2010.

Benjamin Watson was reunited with Cleveland Browns' head coach Eric Mangini and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll.

Benjamin Watson started in all 16 games for the first time in his career in 2010 and recorded 68 receptions for 763 receiving yards and three touchdown receptions.

Benjamin Watson led the team in receptions, receiving yards, and tied wide receiver Brian Robiskie for most receiving touchdowns.

On July 30,2011, Benjamin Watson suffered a concussion after taking an inadvertent knee to the helmet during the Browns' first practice in training camp.

On December 16,2011, the Cleveland Browns officially placed Benjamin Watson on injured reserve, and he missed the remaining three games of the regular season after being evaluated by a head trauma specialist.

Benjamin Watson finished the 2011 season with a total of 37 receptions for 410 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 13 games and 11 starts.

Benjamin Watson completed the 2012 season with 48 receptions for 501 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 16 games and 14 starts.

Benjamin Watson entered the Saints training camp slated as a backup for the first time in his career.

Benjamin Watson was inserted in the starting lineup against the Patriots due to an injury to Jimmy Graham.

Benjamin Watson remained inactive for their Week 11 victory against the San Francisco 49ers.

Benjamin Watson finished his first season with the Saints with 19 receptions for 226 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 15 games and seven starts.

Benjamin Watson returned as the Saints' secondary receiving tight end option behind Jimmy Graham in 2014.

Benjamin Watson finished the season with 20 receptions for 136 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 16 games and eight starts.

Benjamin Watson entered the Saints season as the starting tight end after the departure of Jimmy Graham.

Benjamin Watson started in all 16 games in 2015 and caught a career-high 74 passes for 825 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

Benjamin Watson finished the 2017 season with 61 receptions for 522 receiving yards and four touchdowns in 16 games and 12 starts.

On January 21,2018, Benjamin Watson was named a finalist for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.

Benjamin Watson became an unrestricted free agent after completing his two-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens.

On December 27,2018, Benjamin Watson announced that he would be retiring after 15 seasons in the NFL.

On May 10,2019, Benjamin Watson came out of retirement and signed with the New England Patriots, the team that had originally drafted him back in 2004.

On May 27,2019, Benjamin Watson announced that he had failed a test for performance-enhancing drugs.

Benjamin Watson announced his second retirement from football on March 16,2020.

Benjamin Watson is married to Kirsten Vaughn Benjamin Watson, who grew up in Baton Rouge.

Vaughn and Benjamin Watson married in 2005 after his rookie NFL year.

Benjamin Watson is a devout Christian who is known for being outspoken about his faith.

Benjamin Watson has a younger brother, Asa, who was signed by the New England Patriots on May 10,2014, but was released before the season started.

Benjamin Watson opposes abortion and spoke at the 2017 March for Life.