QB Deshaun Watson (10.1.26)
Can you put into words what it felt like to go out there and beat the Pittsburgh Steelers?
“It was electric. It was amazing. From the time we came out pregame, it was super dope to be called out,, hear the crowd and feel the energy. From start to finish, the crowd was in it, the energy of the stadium, we fed off them. To get a big victory against a divisional rival on primetime, this what you dream about. This is what you work for. These are the things that you put that grind in during the summertime and training camp for nights like this. It was amazing.”
Was this the most you’ve ever felt in this stadium?
“For sure. It’s hard to think about all the other times with so much going on, but it was definitely one of the best times – if not the best night I’ve been in this stadium for sure.”
What is the conversation on the sideline like with you and Todd after they come down and tie it?
“Really, when they are driving down, you’re talking with the coaching staff. If it going to be four-minute, two-minute, going over certain plays. Me and (HC Todd) Monk (Monken) speak before the game and go through the whole gameplan. I kind of already have a jist of what he’s going to call throughout the week and just the pregame. Once they scored and tied it up, it’s like, ‘this is what we practice.’ We practice it every week. We practice two-minute every day, so get to our spot. I talked to the special teams staff, and asked them where that landmark is. That’s what we were aiming for.”
What were your emotions like during the game? A slow start, then a big second quarter, you don’t score for a while then you get the win. What was that like?
“That’s part of the NFL. You have to ride the waves. So many momentum shifts, they are the best in the world, just like us. They are a really good team. They are going to make plays, and they made a couple of plays that went their way. We made a couple of plays that went our way. We just have to ride the wave until our opportunities came and at the end of the day, whenever those moments come, especially at the end, we found a way to get the W. That’s what ultimately matters.”
How important has it been to your success this year that you knew that Todd Monken believed in you from the very beginning?
“He believes in all of us. Coach is a player-coach. One thing he’s going to instill in the locker room is that he wants everyone to play their best. He wants everyone to be at the top tier. He’s going to bring it out. For him to be able to trust me in these moments is major. Coach Monken is awesome, I love playing for him and he’s going to always make sure he tries to bring the best of out each other.”
How do you feel now – the incredible turnaround in emotion since the Bills game?
“It’s all God. I just let him take the wheel and he controls everything else. Nothing changed, I think just being able to show my character, show who I am as a person. Speak the truth, continue to pray and do everything right and live right. Try to win games and play good football. I let him control everything else. It’s a great opportunity, great moment. I want to continue to ride this wave with the fanbase, and the city and the organization. We’re 3-1, and that’s a great feeling. We’re doing it for the city.”
A national stage watched you tonight, as a player, what is different about you than back in 2024, 2023, etc.?
“I’m healthy. My mental is straight. My emotions are super good. Spiritually, I’m in a great space. We have all four wheels rolling and when they are on the same pace, you can be able to improve and show you’re capable of being that special player and person you are. That is pretty much it.”
In an interview with Taylor Rooks during the pregame, you said that a few years back it was hard for you mentally to be out there and play. When and how did that start to turn for you?
“I don’t know exactly when, but it’s no secret of what I went through. I’ve just been trying to manage, day by day. There were challenges. There was a lot of self talks, family talks, mental treatments that I had to go through. Again, I am in a great space. That’s in the past. I’m moving forward. That was moment where I wanted to be honest to the world. It has been tough. This hasn’t been a smooth ride at all, physically or mentally. Every day is a challenge. That’s why I say my slogan is “4OVE.” It’s focusing on victories every day. I gotta win today, and I gotta win this moment as I talk to you guys and go from there”
Jared Verse said in the locker room that this team has a lot more swag. They want to shut other teams up and show around the league that this is not the old Browns. This is a new Browns team. What do you feel exactly has clicked for this team the last couple of days? What is so different about this year compared to any other year?
“Really just the chemistry. We’re so young, and we have that mix of veterans that are open to the young guys, and just bringing that energy and that swagger. We wanna just hang out with each other. Defense, special teams, offense, that bond. It starts with coach Monken. He’s making sure that we’re spending time together. We’re hanging out together. We’re not separate all the time. Defense is with the offense, offense is with the special teams and vice versa. We’re just hanging out, kicking it with each other, spending time with each other, and really just grinding. It brings it out. The young guys are the energy of that locker room for sure.”
How is it to be able to deliver that joy and euphoria in the stadium to those fans, and feel everything coming from them?
“It’s amazing. This is what it’s all about. For the fans, for the city. They pay to come watch us perform and bring joy to them. I think these last three weeks there have been some ups and downs, but at the end, we finish with that joy and those cheers, and we want to continue to bring that. That’s why we grind, that’s why we strive. Monken preaches all the time “they come out here to watch us perform and bring that joy every time we have that opportunity. It’s been awesome.”
Deshaun you just said it, it’s a young team, the energy, the roster is like 25.5, how has this group so quickly been able to in those clutch moments, be so unwavering and then the offense, how do you help them be in better places?
“Just instilled motivation, belief, hope, discipline, and consistency, you know all these opportunities, and letting these guys know, hey you’re going to have your opportunity, like we mentioned last week, you probably seen the video of Denzel (Boston), like you got to slant right, you got to glance, go win. The opportunity is coming, and he’s looking me in my eyes and goes I’m gonna win. Those moments like that, talking to Jerry (Jeudy), hey your opportunity is gonna come, I’m gonna need you, and he showed up tonight and made some big catches late in the fourth quarter and third quarter. All these guys are staying positive, staying intrigued in the moment, and just for the opportunities and when they come they take advantage and the veteran guys are making sure the guys are learning and we’re teaching them the right way. Its been a big collective and team collective. It has been awesome.”
What were you thinking when Andre (Szmyt) lined up for the 56-yarder?
“That was money. I just knew, I knew it was money, he told me the landmark, which was like the 42-yard line, he was like man, you got me a little extra, so he would just line it up and we see it all the time, he’s just going to be money.”
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