The road to the NFL isn’t always a straight line from high school to the pros. Sometimes, like in the cases of Kurt Warner, Matt Hasselbeck, or J.J. Watt, the path to fame has long detours. If you still don’t believe it, just ask Jaylen Watson.
Today, Watson is not only one of the most sought-after cornerbacks in free agency, but he has also won two Super Bowls and is one of the highest-paid players at his position.
Watson joined the Kansas City Chiefs as the 243rd overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. During this time, he has accumulated:
- 178 tackles, 128 solo
- 4 sacks
- 24 deflections
- 2 interceptions
- 1 defensive touchdown
After leaving the Chiefs in January, Watson signed a three-year, $51 million contract with the Los Angeles Rams, culminating a journey that began in a Wendy’s kitchen.
The job Jaylen Watson hated
This Thursday, the Rams introduced their new cornerback to the media. In the press conference, Watson recalled the job he took while trying to revive his football career. “I hated it. It was terrible,” he said, laughing.
He remembered taking the job after failing to transfer from Ventura College to USC because he wasn’t academically eligible. His mother, Latoya Pillow, was the restaurant manager, and she offered him the job.
“I love her to death, but it was terrible,” Watson admitted with a smile. “You get no breaks from your mom. You go to work, you’re with your mom. You go home, you’re with your mom. You can’t even talk about work.”
You might get mad, you might not have a good day at work, and then you go home. Guess who’s home?
Latoya is Watson’s hero.
However, behind the jokes, Watson has a deep respect for his mother. “Just seeing all the sacrifices she put in. It kind of made me push harder and strive to be something in my life.”
Watson really did become someone. Although he went through a tough time after falling to the seventh round of the draft, both his sacrifices and his mother’s were ultimately worth it.
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