Deshaun Watson Father Bio: Family [2023 Update]

Deshaun Watson, NFL Quarterback’s father name is Don Richardson, and Watson spent his whole life in his absence as he was raised by his mother, Deann Watson.

Deshaun Watson is a footballer who plays for the Houston Texans in the National Football League. He serves as a quarterback for the NFL team.

He came from a very struggling family and had to work hard to find his place in the NFL. A single mother raised the athlete. 

Deshaun Watson’s father, Don Richardson, was not there to look after him as he grew up. As far as our knowledge, his father is still an absent figure in his life.

However, he had a great support system, and his relatives stepped up in his time of need. On top of struggling to make ends meet, the NFL player’s mother was diagnosed with tongue cancer when he was a high schooler. 

As a result, Deshaun had to grow up way young and take responsibility for his mother and siblings. He used to look after his younger siblings while working jobs to support his family.

He also played basketball and football at school and was on top of his academics. Hence, the QB knew he wanted to live a better life and get out of the hood early. 

With perseverance, hard work, and discipline, Watson could make his dream a reality. Currently, he is considered one of the best footballers in the league. 

Before details about Deshaun Watson’s father’s life and career, here are some quick facts about him. 

Quick Facts | Don Richardson

Deshaun Watson Father | Early Life, Family, And Kids

Deshaun Watson’s father is Don Richardson. Unlike most kids, the NFL player has his mother’s last name as she was raised alone. 

Moreover, many sources have claimed that Watson never even met his father. Nevertheless, Don has been absent from his kids’ lives since they were young.  

Hence, Deshaun and his siblings grew up without a fatherly presence in their lives, and the family depended on their mother’s income for a living. They used to live in a government-run apartment.

However, the neighborhood was not the best place to grow up, as many drug dealers and gang members resided there. So the QB tried his best to focus on school and football and getting out of there.

Once Deshaun brought a Habitat for Humanity flyer after hearing about the program.  Shortly after, the Watson family was gifted a new home by former NFL running back Warrick Dunn through the organization. 

Raised By A Single Mom

Rook was a very dedicated student and did his best to help his mother. However, things got terrible when Deann was diagnosed with stage five tongue cancer. 

At the time, Deshaun was in high school, and his whole world turned upside down. As a result, all the household and financial responsibilities fell on the athlete’s shoulders and his older brother, Detrick.

Not to mention, the footballer worked four jobs to keep the family afloat while his mother was battling cancer. Eventually, Deann kicked cancer to the curb, and Deshaun made it through high school. 

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Education And NFL Draft

While graduating from Gainesville High School, his high school coach suggested he should think about a career in football as he saw a lot of potential in Watson. But, until then, the NFL player never believed he could get into the league. 

After that, he had a tremendous collegiate career at Clemson University with the Clemson Tigers and won many awards and honors. Shortly after, several media outlets and experts considered Rook a top prospect and a first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. 

The Houston Texans drafted him as the 12th pick overall in the first round. Coincidentally, Warrick Dunn, who helped him get a house through Habitat for Humanity, is also a 12th pick overall. 

Although growing up without a father was challenging and brought struggles for Watson, even though he managed to make the best.

Instead of seeing the problems in his life as problems, the athlete saw them as opportunities to grow and build himself up. 

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