In the world of professional football, sometimes the play on the field can be overshadowed by off-kilter stories that capture the imagination of fans. And it seems an old but entertaining anecdote involving Deshaun Watson and a Popeyes chicken sandwich has resurfaced, reminding us of one such peculiar moment.
Back in 2019, when Watson was dazzling fans as the quarterback for the Houston Texans, he found himself in a rather bizarre situation during a game against the Oakland Raiders. Despite getting a kick to the face that left him with a painful-looking red and swollen eye, he managed to throw a clutch game-winning touchdown pass to Darren Fells. When asked about his recovery shortly thereafter, Watson credited Popeyes spicy chicken sandwiches as part of his unconventional healing process. It’s not every day you hear an athlete attributing recuperation to fast food, especially in a sport as punishing as football.
The humor wasnât lost on fans when ML Footballâs X/Twitter account brought that story back into the spotlight. The responses were as rapid as they were witty. One fan joked about corporate sponsorship, quipping, âkfc payed him to say this.â Another fan seemed to connect on a personal level, mentioning, âPopeyeâs chicken sandwich has helped me get through some tough times, too.â
The sandwich debate even saw some culinary critique with one fan stating, âAnd Popeyes is not that good,â while another defended, âTo be fair, Popeyes has the best fast food chicken sandwich in the game right now.â Some fans even creatively speculated that Popeyes could be a secret to more than just recovering from injuries, humorously suggesting, âif he ate the spicy chicken tenders too he might win the Super Bowl.â One comment summed it up with a locker-room suggestion: âLol, if Popeyes sandwiches are the secret to healing, maybe the Browns should stock the locker room with them.â
Regardless of the humor, Watsonâs resilience on the field earned him a second Pro Bowl nod that season. Under his leadership, the Texans claimed another AFC South division title and a thrilling Wild Card win against the Buffalo Bills, before their journey was halted by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Fast forward to today, and the narrative around Watson has shifted dramatically. After the Cleveland Browns took a gamble trading for Watson in 2022 amid serious legal controversies, things have not gone according to plan. Watsonâs impact on the field has been limited across just 19 games due to various issues, including injuries. Now, with another setbackâa re-ruptured Achilles tendonâWatson is poised to miss the entire 2025 season. What once seemed like a franchise-altering trade for the Browns, now raises questions about its long-term implications given the challenges Watson and the team continue to face.
