Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Desmond Watson already made history before playing an NFL game by weighing 464 pounds, but he is eager to make history in other ways.
On Saturday, Watson answered multiple questions from reporters about his weight and discussed his desire to do more on the field rather than be defined solely by his size.
“I feel like my name is etched in history as the official heaviest player in the NFL,” Watson said. “It’s a good story, but at the same time, I don’t want it to be my narrative. I want to be known as a football player—and a good football player at that. But it’s nice to be able to make history, I guess, because I did it in college, too. I am a football player, and I want to be known as a good one. It’s just a process that comes with it.”
Watson said he is making strides in losing weight and is now transitioning to a new nutritionist who will develop a plan to support his weight loss efforts.
Last season at the University of Florida, Watson recorded 20 tackles, one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry.
If he continues to slim down and plays as he did at Florida, the Buccaneers could emerge as one of the league’s most formidable teams to run against between the tackles, especially when paired with defensive tackle Vita Vea. If Watson struggles to lose weight, the Buccaneers have another motivational option.
“My mom is 45 minutes away, so if all else fails, they can get her to get on me,” Watson said.
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Chris Franklin may be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com.
