The 2021 NFL offseason began with Deshaun Watson dominating headline as he requested a trade from the Houston Texans but those talks have slowed down as he is in the midst of controversy after 22 women file lawsuits against him for allegations of sexual misconduct.
After a victim came out and spoke publicly about his behavior during a massage session, Nike suspended it’s sponsorship with him. Beats By Dre shortly followed by ending their relationship with Watson. Reliant Energy, which holds the naming rights to the stadium in which the Texans play, has ended its relationship with Watson as well. On top of that, Texas grocery chain H-E-B said in a statement that its relationship with Watson ended with the 2020 season, and that “[t]here are no plans for future engagement.”
With the different companies cutting their ties with the 25-year-old star quarterback, Forbes estimates that Watson will lose $8 million in sponsorship money this year:
Right now, only Rolex and Lefty’s Famous Cheesesteaks appear to be still on his side but it’s inevitable that those two will soon cut ties as well.
Deshaun Watson had one of the top salaries in the NFL in 2020 with the Houston Texans. He earned an estimated $29.35 million on the field. This came after he signed a four-year $156 million extension with the Texans last year that tied him to the team through the 2025 NFL season.
