New England Patriots tight end Benjamin Watson announced he was likely retiring following a stunning 20-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans in the NFL Playoffs. Watson, a former Georgia Bulldog, is 39 years old. Now he’s officially announced his retirement via Twitter.
Watson, a long-time social advocate, won’t be retiring from the public eye. In his lengthy retirement message Watson thanks numerous family members, friends, and teams (he played for the Browns, Patriots, Saints, and Ravens):
Watson finished the 2019 season with 17 catches for 173 yards and no touchdowns. Against the Titans, Watson had an explosive play called back due to an ineligible receiver down field:
Tom Brady and New England’s offense struggled in the second half against Tennessee’s stout defense. It was the Patriot’s first Wildcard exit in a decade.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Watson’s likely retirement following the NFL Playoffs:
Upon further review, Schefter’s announcement was a little premature. During postgame interviews, Watson wanted to discuss his future with his family. Watson says, “He wants to be back here, but probably won’t be playing”:
Watson retired as a New Orleans Saint after last season’s tough defeat in the NFC Championship against the Los Angeles Rams. Now, it looks like he’s retired for good.
In Watson’s long career (2004-2019), he caught 547 receptions for 6,058 yards, and scored 44 touchdowns. Watson is an excellent representative of the University of Georgia and what it means to be a Georgia Bulldog.
