HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610) -- Deshaun Watson’s life-changing contract extension with the Houston Texans was put into perspective when he spoke about it publicly for the first time Saturday night.
Watson spoke candidly about why the contract extension meant so much -- beyond the $111 million guaranteed.
When Watson arrived to speak with media members via Zoom conference call, he was surprised with his family members, former college football coach Dabo Swinney, and Astros pitcher Justin Verlander among other close friends.
“I'm lost for words, honestly,” Watson said. “Been crying a little bit, a lot of bit, really. It's just an amazing moment for me to be able to extend my career in a location, in a place, in a home, I would say, that my family loves, that I love. I want to continue to dive into the community most of all and just continue to build my legacy, just build our legacy as a whole and do something that we've never been done before. Growing up my word has always been legendary, and for me at Gainesville High School, we never won a state championship and I was the first quarterback to do it. Clemson University never won a National Championship since who knows when. I was the first one to do it.
“And the Houston Texans organization, being so new we haven't even got to that stage yet. For me to be able to have that opportunity with a whole bunch of great other teammates, a great coaching staff, a great organization and people up front, I want to be able to have that on my statue, too. That's what I've been working for. You know, to answer your question, that was my last and least concern, honestly. The money is amazing. It's life-changing. It's great. But the biggest thing is for the McNair family, OB, Jack, to just trust in me and believe in me that I'm their guy, I'm their quarterback is the biggest thing that really touches me. Growing up, from where I'm from, there's not too many people that make it out, and so for them to -- for them to just trust me really means the most. That's the biggest thing. The contract, I knew that was going to take care of itself. My biggest thing was the locker room and just my performance on the field, because that's -- I mean, that's been something that really just got me from all the -- just really all the negative stuff that we had experienced growing up.”