In an NFL Films video featuring his family, veteran New Orleans Saints tight end Benjamin Watson said Thursday he will retire at the conclusion of this season.
Flanked by his wife Kirsten and five children, Watson said in the video: “It’s time. It’s time to be done. I’m going to finish strong.”
Watson’s career will end with the conclusion to his second stint with the Saints, whom he also played for from 2013 to 2015. He returned to New Orleans on a one-year deal and this season he has 33 catches for 371 yards and two touchdowns (including Drew Brees’ 500th career TD pass) in 15 games.
“You hope you get to exit on your own terms, you hope you get to exit with a great win, and it’s been great to be a part of this team and have this sort of winning at this point of my career,” Watson said.
Watson turned 38 on Dec. 18 and has 528 receptions for 5,856 yards and 44 TDs in 194 regular-season games with the New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens.
Watson entered the league as a first-round pick of the Patriots in 2004 and won a Super Bowl in his rookie season, though he was on injured reserve as the Patriots won the third of their five Super Bowl titles.
Watson spent his first six seasons with New England before joining Cleveland for three seasons. In 2015, Watson set career bests with 74 receptions and 825 yards in 2015.
