Benjamin Watson Wife, Family, Height, Weight, Body Stats, Bio

Quick Facts

Benjamin Watson is a popular American football tight end who is currently playing for the New Orleans Saints of the NFL. Watson is also an author who has released a number of books including The New Dad’s Playbook (2016), Under Our Skin (2015) and Taylor’s Guide to Heirloom Vegetables. He has crafted quite a legacy for himself in the famous sports, scoring a 48 on the Wonderlic Personnel test and emerged with the third highest score of any player in the history of the league.

Watson also won the Super Bowl XXXIX with the England Patriots (2004 – 2010) against the Philadelphia Eagles and has played with other teams like the Cleveland Browns from 2010 to 2012.

Benjamin Watson’s Biography

Benjamin Seth Watson was born on December 18, 1980, in Norfolk, Virginia, the United States of America. Growing up in Rock Hill, South Carolina, he attended Northwestern High School where he was a letterman both in track and football. He led his team to the state championship in his junior year and was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

During his senior year as a football player, he caught 31 passes for 515 yards and was a two-time All-Region selection and Northwestern HS Student of the Year. Watson participated in other sports including track & field in which he was an outstanding sprinter, with a personal-best times record of 22.37 seconds in the 200 meters and 50.03secs in the 400 meters.

Career

Coming out of high school, Benjamin Watson committed to play football, first, at Duke University (1999) and later transferred to the University of Georgia (2001 -2003) to study finance. He played for one season in Duke and three seasons at Georgia and had a total of 73 catches for 945 yards and 7 touchdowns.

Watson’s overall performances at the 2004 NFL combine deeply impressed team representatives and scouts. He completed all of the combine and positional drills, scoring a 48 on the Wonderlic test which was rated the highest score of any player in league history. By the end of the practice, scouts and NFL draft experts projected Benjamin Watson to a second round pick, as well as the third best tight end prospect in the draft.

He started playing pro after signing with New England Patriots who selected him 32nd overall in the first round of the 2004 NFL draft. His first contract with the team was for six years and worth $13.50 million, including a signing bonus of $3.81 million. He had a taste of victory in his career start with the team, catching two passes for 16-yards in their 27–24 win against the Indianapolis Colts.

Through his seasons with the Patriots (2004 – 2009) as the starting end, Watson participated in a total of 71 games, 167 receptions, for 2,102 yards and 20 touchdowns. He earned a Super Bowl ring in the first season after the Patriots defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 24–21 in Super Bowl XXXIX but not without sustaining a knee injury during the third round of his first game with the team.

Benjamin Watson was offered a contract by two teams: Cleveland Browns and Seattle Seahawks, as an unrestricted free agent in 2010. He later signed with the Cleveland Browns on a three-year deal of $12 million, with $6.35 million guaranteed, on March 12, 2010. He was named the starter to begin the regular season and later played as tight end in 2012. In all his 45 games with the Browns, he collected a total of 154 receptions for 1,674 yards and 8 touchdowns.

In 2013, Watson signed a three-year, $4.95 million contract with the New Orlean Saints (2013 – 2015) and was named the second tight end to start the season. After he suffered an injury, he played as a starting lineup during a 30–27 loss to his former team, New England Patriots. In the 10th week, he sustained a concussion in the Saints’ 49–17 victory against the Dallas Cowboys.

He finished the entire reason with a total of 113 receptions for 1,187 yards, and 10 touchdowns in all 47 games with the Saints. Watson became one of the offensive team captains in 2015, along with teammates Zach Strief and 

After his contract with the Saints ended, the Baltimore Ravens signed Watson to a two-year, $7 million deal including a signing bonus of $2 million with $3 million guaranteed. He competed during training as the starting tight end but was later named the backup tight end to begin the regular season. He completed the entire season, precisely in 16 games and 12 starts with 61 receptions for 522 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns. His efforts led to the Ravens’ 21–10 victory against the Cleveland Browns in Week 2, as well as the 27–10 win at the Cleveland Browns in Week 15.

Watson became an unrestricted free agent upon completion of his two contracts with the Ravens and negotiated a second stint with New Orleans Saints on March 21, 2018, for a year in a $2 million contract including a signing bonus of $645,000.

Body Stats

The 2004 first-round pick had his best NFL season at age 35 and has surprisingly remained useful. With his body stats and 15 years in the game, ageing doesn’t seem to apply to Watson at all. He is reputed as one of New Orleans’ hardest workers, credit to his strength, speed and leadership abilities. He stands at an impressive height of 6’3” (1.91 m) and weighs 116 kg (251lbs)

Wife And Family

Benjamin Watson is married to his wife, Kristen Watson and the couple has five kids: Grace Makayla Watson, Naomi Love Watson, Judah Watson, Eden Moriah Watson, Isaiah Watson. They got married in 2005 after meeting at a campus party and ever since, they have continued to build their marriage on the strong virtues of Christianity.

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