There were laughs. There were tears. There were memories, happy and sad, shared on Deshaun Watson's Saturday night meetup with the media via Zoom. Earlier that day, the Texans quarterback signed a contract extension that will keep him in Houston through the 2025 season.
Above all else, it was made clear by Watson that winning a championship remains at the forefront of his mind.
"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," Watson said. "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."
Watson, picked 12th overall by Houston in the 2017 NFL Draft, has done nothing but amaze since joining the organization. Fresh off guiding the franchise to a combined 21 wins and two AFC South titles the last two seasons, Watson and company are hungry for more, and general manager/head coach Bill O'Brien explained the message it sends to the rest of the team in signing Watson.
"He's just a tremendously hardworking young man, a very bright guy," O'Brien said. "He's a winner and he's a winner at the most important position in football. So I just think it's a reflection to the team of what we're trying to do here and the commitment that both sides have, the commitment that he has to winning here and being who he is both on and off the field and the commitment that we have to him relative to our belief in him since the day I met him at the combine years ago."
Watson and the Texans kick off the 2020 NFL season Thursday night at Kansas City against the Chiefs.
Check out some of Deshaun Watson's best moments on the field.
An image from the Dec. 29, 2019 regular season home game against the Tennessee Titans. The Texans lost 35-14.
An image from the Aug. 23, 2020 Houston Texans training camp practice.
An image from the Sept. 9, 2018 regular season away game against the New England Patriots. The Texans lost 20-27.
A Sept. 2, 2020 image of a Houston Texans training camp scrimmage at NRG Stadium.
An image from the Jan. 4, 2020 Wildcard home game against the Buffalo Bills. The Texans won 22-19.
An image from the Sept. 30, 2018 regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts. The Texans won 37-34 in overtime.
An image from the Sept. 16, 2018 regular season away game against the Tennessee Titans. The Texans lost 17-20.
An image from the Sept. 23, 2018 regular season home game against the New York Giants. The Texans lost 22-27.
An image from the Jan. 12, 2020 Playoffs Divisional Round away game against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Texans lost 31-51.
An image from the Jan. 12, 2020 Playoffs Divisional Round away game against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Texans lost 31-51.
An image from the Jan. 4, 2020 Wildcard home game against the Buffalo Bills. The Texans won 22-19.
An image from the Dec. 21, 2019 regular season away game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Texans won 23-20.
An image from the Dec. 8, 2019 regular season home game against the Denver Broncos. The Texans lost 24-38
An image from the Dec. 15, 2019 regular season away game against the Tennessee Titans. The Texans won 24-21.
An image from the Sept. 15, 2019 regular season home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Texans won 13-12.
An image from the Aug. 9, 2017 preseason away game against the Carolina Panthers. The Texans lost 17-27.
An image from the Oct. 20, 2019 regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts. The Texans lost 23-30.
An image from the Sept. 15, 2019 regular season home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Texans won 13-12.
An image from the Sept. 22, 2019 regular season away game against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Texans won 27-20.
An image from the Jan. 4, 2020 Wildcard Playoff Game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 22-19.
An image from the Jan. 5, 2019 Wildcard game against the Indianapolis Colts. The Texans lost 7-21.
An image from the Dec. 23, 2018 regular season away game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Texans lost 30-32.
An image from the Jan. 4, 2020 Wildcard Playoff Game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 22-19.
An image from the Oct. 25, 2018 regular season home game against the Miami Dolphins. The Texans won 42-23.
An image from the Oct. 25, 2018 regular season home game against the Miami Dolphins. The Texans won 42-23.
An image from the Aug. 19, 2018 preseason away game against the San Francisco 49ers. The Texans won 16-13.
An image from the Sept. 30, 2018 regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts. The Texans won 37-34 in overtime.
An image from the Sept. 30, 2018 regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts. The Texans won 37-34 in overtime.
An image from the Oct. 21, 2018 regular season away game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Texans won 20-7.
