Benjamin Watson was drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round (32nd overall) of the 2004 NFL draft ... Signed by the Patriots (8/16/04) ... Placed on injured reserve with a knee injury (9/29/04).
 

View Benjamin Watson's Career Statistics >>

GP/GS (Playoffs): 71/47 (9/7)

• In his five NFL seasons entering 2009, Watson started 40 of 55 games, recording 138 receptions for 1,698 yards and 15 touchdowns.
• Over the last four seasons (2005-08), Watson has totaled 136 catches, the most by a Patriots tight end over a fouryear span since Ben Coates had 227 receptions from 1996-99.
• Watson started nine of 14 games in 2008 and led Patriots tight ends with 22 receptions for 209 yards and two touchdowns. He had a single-game career high eight receptions against the N.Y. Jets (11/13/08).
• In 2007, Watson caught a career-high six touchdown passes, a total that ranked third on the team as the Patriots set all-time NFL records for points scored (589) and point differential (+315) while completing the NFL's first 16-0 regular season.
• Watson had the most productive game of his career on Oct. 7, 2007 against Cleveland, catching six passes for a career-high 107 yards and a career-best two touchdowns.
• Watson had a pair of touchdown receptions in the Patriots' divisional playoff victory over Jacksonville on Jan. 12, 2008, tying the Patriots playoff record for touchdown receptions in a game.
• In 2006, Watson finished second among all Patriots receivers with a career-high 49 receptions. His reception total was the highest by a Patriots tight end since 1998, when Ben Coates caught 67 passes.
• Watson set then career highs with seven catches and 95 receiving yards against the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 30, 2006.
• Watson led all Patriots tight ends with 29 receptions for 441 yards and four touchdowns in 2005, while snaring 10 passes of 20 yards or longer.
• Watson recorded the longest touchdown reception in Patriots playoff history when he hauled in a pass and rumbled for a 63-yard score in the 2005 wild card playoffs (1/7/06) vs. Jacksonville.

2009 (16/7/0/0): Played in 16 games, making seven starts at tight end ... Hauled in 29 receptions for 404 yards and five touchdowns ... Tied a single-game career high with two touchdown receptions versus the Buffalo Bills (9/14).

Buffalo (9/14): Start at tight end and tied a single-game career high with two touchdown catches in the Patriots' 25-24 victory over the Bills ... Both of his scoring grabs came within the final 2:10 of the game, including a game-winning touchdown reception ... Hauled in touchdown receptions of 18 and 16 yards, respectively ... Grabbed six receptions for 77 yards. at N.Y. Jets (9/20): Played in reserve at tight end against the Jets ... Caught three receptions for 23 yards. Atlanta (9/27): Started at tight end in the Patriots' 26-10 victory over the Falcons ... Stretched out to haul in a 23-yard reception from Tom Brady in the third quarter. Baltimore (10/4): Played in reserve at tight end and grabbed two receptions for 51 yards in the Patriots' 27-21 victory over the Ravens ... Hauled in his longest reception since the 2007 season with a 34-yard catch in the second quarter. at Denver (10/11): Started at tight end, hauling in two catches for 13 yards and one touchdown reception ... Grabbed a 7-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady with nine seconds remaining in the first half for his third touchdown reception of the season. Tennessee (10/18): Played in reserve at tight end as the Patriots set a team record with 619 net yards while posting a 59-0 victory over the Titans, tying the largest margin of victory by any team since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. at Tampa Bay (10/25): Started at tight end as the Patriots opened in a two tight end set in their 35-7 win over the Buccaneers at Wembley Stadium ... Sped through the seem in the Tampa defensed to haul in a 35-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady to give the Patriots a 28-7 lead in the third quarter. Miami (11/8): Played in reserve at tight end in the Patriots' 27-17 win over the Dolphins ... Grabbed four receptions for 49 yards. at Indianapolis (11/15): Started at tight end at the Colts ... Tallied one reception with a season-long 36-yard reception from Tom Brady in the second quarter, setting up a Randy Moss touchdown reception. N.Y. Jets (11/22): Played in reserve at tight end in the Patriots' 31-14 win over the Jets. at New Orleans (11/30): Played in reserve at tight end at the Saints and grabbed two receptions for 14 yards. at Miami (12/6): Started at tight end at the Dolphins. Carolina (12/13): Started at tight end in the Patriots' 20-10 win over the Panthers and hauled in his fifth touchdown reception of the season ... Snared a 5-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady in the third quarter to give the Patriots a 14-7 lead on what would prove to be the game-winning touchdown ... Grabbed three receptions for 37 yards. at Buffalo (12/20): Played in reserve at tight end in the Patriots' 17-10 win over the Bills. Jacksonville (12/27): Played in reserve at tight end as the Patriots clinched the AFC East title with a 35-7 win over the Jaguars ... Made one catch for 14 yards. at Houston (1/3): Played in reserve at tight end at the Texans ... Made three receptions for 32 yards.

2009 Postseason (1/0/0/0): Baltimore (1/10): Played in reserve at tight end versus the Ravens ... Made one reception for three yards.

2008 (14/9): Played in the final 14 games of the season with nine starts ... Finished fifth on the team with 22 receptions for 209 yards and two touchdowns ... Led the team in receptions once (vs. NYJ) in 2008 ... Tallied a single-game career high eight receptions against the N.Y. Jets (11/13) ... Saw his first action of the season in a reserve role at tight end, making one catch for six yards against Miami (9/21) ... Hauled in three catches for 40 yards against Denver (10/20) ... Hauled in a season long 29-yard reception ... Tallied a single-game career high eight receptions for 88 yards and grabbed his first touchdown reception of the season against the N.Y. Jets (11/13) ... Hauled in a 10-yard scoring strike from Matt Cassel ... Registered his second touchdown reception of the season with a 2-yard scoring strike from Matt Cassel in the Patriots' comeback win at Seattle (12/7) ... Started at tight end in the final three contests of the season at Oakland (12/14), against Arizona (12/21) and at Buffalo (12/28).
 

2007 (12/9/0/4):  Played in 12 games while making nine starts at tight end in 2007... Set career single-game highs in receiving yards (107) and touchdowns (2) in the Patriots' 34-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns on October 7, 2007... Hauled in a career-high six touchdown passes in 2007.

at N.Y. Jets (9/9):  Started at tight end in the Patriots' 38-14 road win over the Jets... Gave the Patriots a 14-7 lead with 1:14 remaining in the first half on a 5-yard touchdown reception in the back of the end zone on a pass from Tom Brady... Provided a crucial block on Ellis Hobbs's NFL record-setting 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.  San Diego (9/16):  Started at tight end... Collected his second receiving touchdown in as many games on a 7-yard strike in the back corner of the end zone from quarterback Tom Brady on the first drive of the game... On that opening drive, caught three of six passes completed by Brady for a total of 22 yards... Hauled in a 14-yard catch from Brady on third and three on a fourth quarter drive that yielded the Patriots' final touchdown of the game, a 3 yard run by Sammy Morris.  Buffalo (9/23):  Started at tight end in the Patriots' 38-7 win over the Bills... Grabbed an 8-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady for the third straight game and the fifth in his last seven regular season games with 5:12 remaining in the second quarter to reclaim the Patriots' lead at 10-7... Hauled in two catches for 17 yards.  at Cincinnati (10/1): Started at tight end... Hauled in two passes for 12 yards... Helped to spring Sammy Morris on a 7-yard touchdown run that gave the Patriots a 24-7 lead in the third quarter with a key outside block... Also helped Morris rumble down field on his game high 49-yard run with a key interior block.  Cleveland (10/7):  Set a career high in yards and touchdowns with a six-catch, 107-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Browns... Recorded the second multiple touchdown game of the season by hauling in a pair of scoring passes from Tom Brady, a 7-yard strike with 1:07 remaining in the first half and a 25-yard hookup 5:15 into the fourth quarter... Led the team with six receptions... Registered his first NFL carry on a 11-yard rush for a first down on a third-quarter Patriots drive.  at Dallas (10/15):  Started at tight end... Caught one pass for 28 yards for a first down on a third-and-seven play that extended a first-quarter drive capped off by a 35-yard Wes Welker touchdown reception.  at Miami (10/21):  Inactive.  Washington (10/28):  Inactive.  at Indianapolis (11/4):  Played in a reserve role at tight end and caught two passes for 10 yards in the Patriots' 24-20 comeback win over the Colts... Picked up his 100th career reception on a 6-yard catch from Tom Brady on third and three to prolong a second-quarter drive that ended in a Randy Moss touchdown and a 7-3 Patriots' lead.  at Buffalo (11/18):  Played in a reserve role at tight end in the Patriots' 56-10 rout of the Bills... Hauled in his sixth touchdown reception of the season with a 3-yard catch with 8:56 remaining in the third quarter that gave New England a 42-7 lead... Caught three passes for 43 yards.  Philadelphia (11/25):  Played in a reserve role at tight end in the Patriots' 31-28 win over the Eagles... Had three catches for 17 yards.  at Baltimore (12/3):  Started at tight end... Hauled in two passes for 26 yards in the Patriots' 27-24 comeback win over the Ravens... Hauled in a 23-yard reception down the middle of the field to spark the Patriots' game-winning drive in the fourth quarter... Recovered an Ed Reed fumble that was forced by Kevin Faulk on an interception return in the second quarter.  Pittsburgh (12/9):  Started at tight end... Made four catches for 33 yards in the Patriots' 34-13 victory over the Steelers.  N.Y. Jets (12/16):  Inactive.  Miami (12/23):  Inactive.  at N.Y. Giants (12/29):  Started at tight end... Grabbed four catches for 38 yards as the Patriots completed a perfect regular-season schedule for the fourth time in NFL history with a 38-35 comeback win over the Giants... Extended a Patriots' third-quarter touchdown drive with a 15-yard reception on third and eight.

2007 Postseason (3/3/0/0):  Jacksonville (1/12):  Started at tight end...  Hauled in two touchdown receptions and tied the Patriots playoff record for most touchdown receptions in a game, while making two catches for 12 yards in the Patriots' 31-20 win over the Jaguars... Grabbed a 3-yard scoring strike from Tom Brady to tie the game 7-7 in the first quarter... Followed up with a 9-yard touchdown catch from Brady to put the Patriots on top 28-17 in the third quarter.  San Diego (1/20):  Started at tight end... Made one catch for eight yards in the Patriots' 21-12 win over the Chargers in the AFC Championship Game.  N.Y. Giants (2/3):  Started at tight end in Super Bowl XLII... Did not record a reception.

2006 (13/13/0/3): Finished second on the team with a career-high 49 receptions and 643 receiving yards ... Led the team or tied for the team lead in receptions five times in 2006 (vs. BUF, at BUF, at MIN, at GB, vs. CHI) ... Led the team in receiving yards six times in 2006 (vs. BUF, at BUF, at MIN, vs. IND, at GB, vs. CHI).

Buffalo (9/10): Started at tight end and led the team with three receptions and 50 yards in the Patriots' 19-17 victory over the Bills ... Extended the Patriots' second touchdown drive with a 34-yard catch over the middle on third-and-nine in the third quarter ... Kept another scoring drive alive with an 11-yard grab on third-and-10 at the start of the fourth quarter. at N.Y. Jets (9/17): Started at tight end ... Grabbed three passes for 39 yards in the Patriots' 24-17 win over the N.Y. Jets ... Extended the Patriots' opening touchdown drive by hauling in a 14-yard reception on third-and-12 in the first quarter ... Set up the Patriots second touchdown of the afternoon with a 23-yard reception down to the Jets' 13-yard line. Denver (9/24): Started at tight end ... Tallied a career-high five receptions for 54 yards ... Grabbed a 17-yard strike from Tom Brady in the second quarter. at Cincinnati (10/1): Made the start at tight end and registered one reception for 35 yards in the Patriots' commanding 38-13 victory over the Bengals ... Set up the Patriots' first touchdown of the day with a 35-yard reception down to the Bengals' 11-yard line in the second quarter. Miami (10/8): Started at tight end ... Collected four receptions for 33 yards in the Patriots' 20-10 win over the Dolphins ... Hauled in a short pass and broke a few tackles on his way to a 9-yard gain and a first down on a third-and-eight play in the third quarter ... Sealed the Patriots victory with a 15-yard reception on fourth-and-three late in the fourth quarter. at Buffalo (10/22): Started at tight end and led the team with five catches and 60 receiving yards in the Patriots' 28-6 road victory over the Bills ... Rumbled for 14 yards on a tight end screen during the Patriots' opening scoring drive in the first quarter ... Hauled in a 17-yard grab on a third-and-nine play in the fourth quarter. at Minnesota (10/30): Started at tight end and led the team with 95 receiving yards and a touchdown in the Patriots' commanding 31-7 road win against the Vikings ... Tied for the team lead with seven receptions in the victory ... Set up the Patriots' opening touchdown of the evening with a 14-yard reception over the middle rumbling down to the Vikings' 6-yard line ... Got behind the linebackers and hauled in a 40-yard reception in the second quarter ... Grabbed his first touchdown of the season on a 9-yard strike from Tom Brady late in the second quarter. Indianapolis (11/5): Started at tight end ... Led the team with 54 receiving yards on four receptions ... Grabbed a 15-yard reception on a third-and-11 play in the first quarter ... Got open over the middle and hauled in a 25-yard reception late in the fourth quarter. N.Y. Jets (11/12): Started at tight end and grabbed two receptions for 16 yards ... Snared a 6-yard reception on fourth-and-three in the final stanza. at Green Bay (11/19): Started at tight end ... Led the team with five receptions and 74 receiving yards, including a touchdown in the Patriots' 35-0 road victory over the Packers ... Got open behind the linebackers and grabbed a 36-yard reception in the opening stanza ... Made a diving grab while dragging both feet in the end zone for an 8-yard touchdown reception with 43 seconds left in the third quarter ... Snared a 13-yard reception on third-and-eight in the fourth quarter. Chicago (11/26): Started at tight end ... Tied for the team lead with six receptions for a team-high 87 receiving yards and a touchdown in the Patriots' 17-13 victory over the Bears ... Got open deep and hauled in 40-yard reception on third-and-three during the Patriots' second touchdown drive in the fourth quarter ... Grabbed a 2- yard touchdown toss from Tom Brady, giving the Patriots a 17-10 lead with 8:22 remaining in the fourth quarter. Detroit (12/3): Made the start at tight end and grabbed three receptions for 41 yards in the Patriots' 28-21 comeback victory over the Lions ... Set up the Patriots' first touchdown of the game with a 23-yard catch down to the Lions' 6-yard line in the second quarter. at Miami (12/10): Started at tight end ... Grabbed one reception for five yards before leaving the game with an injury in the third quarter. Houston (12/17): Inactive. at Jacksonville (12/24): Inactive. at Tennessee (12/31): Inactive.

2006 Postseason (3/2/0/0): N.Y. Jets (1/7): Played in a reserve role at tight end and grabbed four receptions for 24 yards in the Patriots' 37-16 AFC Wild Card victory over the N.Y. Jets ... Set up the Patriots' second score of the game by drawing a 22-yard pass interference penalty on Hank Poteat at the Jets' 3-yard line. at San Diego (1/14): Started at tight end ... Grabbed one reception for nine yards in the Patriots' 24-21 AFC Divisional playoff victory over the Chargers. at Indianapolis (1/21): Started at tight end ... Led the team with five receptions and 48 yards.

2005 (15/9/0/1): Snared his first career touchdown on a 33-yard reception against Atlanta (10/09/05).  Oakland (9/8): Started at tight end as the Patriots opened the game in a two tight end set ... Snared two receptions for 55 yards in the Patriots' 30-20 victory over the Raiders on opening night ... Hauled in two third-down receptions to extend the Patriots opening scoring drive of the game that ended with an Adam Vinatieri 26-yard field goal ... Snared a 20-yard pass on third-and-10 in the first quarter ... Caught a 35-yard strike on third-and-six later in the drive. at Carolina (9/18): Started at tight end and made one reception for seven yards ... Caught Chris Gamble from behind and saved a potential touchdown on a punt return in the second quarter. at Pittsburgh (9/25): Started at tight end and hauled in one reception for 10 yards in the Patriots' 23-20 victory over the Steelers ... Set up the Patriots' first touchdown of the afternoon with a 10-yard grab down to the Pittsburgh 4-yard line. San Diego (10/2): Played in a reserve role at tight end ... Kickstarted the Patriots final scoring drive of the first half with a 23-yard reception in the second quarter. at Atlanta (10/9): Started at tight end and snared a touchdown pass in the Patriots' 31-28 win over the Falcons ... Gave the Patriots a 21-13 lead with his first career touchdown with a 33-yard grab in the third quarter. at Denver (10/16): Played in a reserve role at tight end and grabbed a 6-yard pass from Tom Brady in the third quarter during the Patriots' initial touchdown drive. Buffalo (10/30): Played in a reserve role at tight end in the Patriots' 21-16 victory over the Bills on Sunday Night Football. Indianapolis (11/7): Started at tight end and collected three receptions for 36 yards ... Kept the Patriots' second touchdown drive alive with a 23-yard reception on third-and-eight in the third quarter. at Miami (11/13): Registered three receptions for 37 yards and two touchdowns in the Patriots' 23-16 road victory over the Dolphins ... Gave the Patriots a 12-7 lead with a 16-yard touchdown reception on the last play of the third quarter ... Hauled in his second touchdown of the afternoon with a diving, tip toe catch of 17 yards in the fourth quarter. New Orleans (11/20): Led the team with 66 receiving yards on four receptions in the Patriots' 24-17 win over the Saints ... Extended the Patriots initial scoring drive with a 29-yard reception on third-and-10 in the first quarter ... Snared a 4-yard pass on fourth-and-two later in the drive ... On the next play from scrimmage, grabbed a 23-yard reception down to the Saints' 5-yard line ... Hauled in a 10-yard reception on third-and-three in the second quarter. at Kansas City (11/27): Caught three passes for 14 yards ... Snared a 10-yard reception on third-and-eight in the first quarter. N.Y. Jets (12/4): Started at tight end and grabbed two receptions for 43 yards in the Patriots' 16-3 victory over the Jets ... Snared a 25-yard reception over the middle in the first quarter ... Hauled in an 18-yard pass on the final play of the third quarter. at Buffalo (12/11): Saw limited action at tight end after leaving the game in the first half with an injury ... Grabbed three receptions for 35 yards on the Patriots' first scoring drive of the afternoon. Tampa Bay (12/17): Inactive. at N.Y. Jets (12/26): Started at tight end and grabbed two receptions for 37 yards in the Patriots' 31-21 victory over the Jets ... Snared a 23-yard pass on third-and-14 during the Patriots' final scoring drive in the fourth quarter ... Sealed the victory by recovering an onside-kick late in the fourth quarter. Miami (1/1): Started at tight end and grabbed two receptions for 39 yards ... Hauled in a 30-yard reception over the middle in the fourth quarter ... Grabbed a 9-yard touchdown strike from Matt Cassel on the final play of the game.

2005 Postseason (2/2/0/0): Jacksonville (1/7): Started at tight end ... Led the team with five receptions and 91 receiving yards in the Patriots' 28-3 AFC Wild Card victory over the Jaguars ... Extended the Patriots' second touchdown drive with a 15-yard reception on third-and-six in the third quarter ... Grabbed a reception over the middle, broke a few tackles and rumbled for a 63-yard touchdown to give the Patriots a commanding 21-3 lead in the third quarter. at Denver (1/14): Started at tight end but did not collect a reception ... Sprinted the length of the field and knocked Champ Bailey out of bounds at the Patriots' 1- yard line following a 100-yard interception return in the third quarter.

2004 (1/1): Made his first NFL start and grabbed his first career reception (9/9). Placed on injured reserve (9/29). Indianapolis (9/9): Started at tight end and snared two receptions for 16 yards in the Patriots’ 27-24 victory over the Colts … Registered his first career reception on a 2-yard pass from Tom Brady in the first quarter … On the next play from scrimmage, got the Patriots first down yardage by hauling in a 14-yard catch on third-and-eight.  at Arizona (9/19):  Inactive.     
 

For his collegiate career, he totaled 945 yards and seven scores on 73 receptions (12.9 avg) ... Began his career at Duke University, catching eight passes for 93 yards (11.6 avg) and a touchdown in 1999 ... In 37 games (26 starts) for Georgia from 2001-03, he made 65 catches for 852 yards (13.6 avg) and six touchdowns. 2003 (Senior): A preseason All-American and All- Southeastern Conference selection, passed on an opportunity to enter 2003 NFL Draft (applied, but later elected to remain a Bulldog for his senior season) ... Caught 23 passes for 324 yards (14.1 avg) and two touchdowns ... Served as offensive team captain and was chosen All-Southeastern Conference secondteam by the Associated Press. 2002 (Junior): Second-team All- Southeastern Conference selection by The NFL Draft Report ... Named the team's best all-around offensive player ... Recipient of the Peter and Kay Amann Endowed Football Scholarship ... Started 13 games, finishing third on the team with 31 catches for 341 yards (11.0 avg) and three touchdowns. 2001 (Sophomore): Recipient of the Peter and Kay Amann Endowed Football Scholarship ... Played in every game, starting vs. Tennessee, Arkansas State and Auburn ... Caught 11 passes for 187 yards (17.0 avg) and a touchdown ... In his first game for Georgia, he caught four passes for 54 yards against Arkansas State. 2000 (Transfer): Did not play under NCAA transfer rules. 1999 (Freshman): Played in 11 games at Duke University, catching eight passes for 93 yards (11.6 avg) and a touchdown.

Benjamin Seth Watson was born the son of Ken and Diana Watson on Dec. 18, 1980 in Norfolk, Va. ... Volunteers for the Habitat for Humanity, Mentoring for Athens/Clarke County Leisure Services, reading programs at local elementary schools, Fellowship of Christian Athletes spokesperson, Boys and Girls Club of Athens, America's Second Harvest Food Bank and Salvation Army Toys-for-Tots programs ... In 2007, helped distribute Thanksgiving food baskets at Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries in Boston ... Traveled to Israel with Patriots owner Robert Kraft and a group from the Boston area in 2008 ... In the Winter of 2007, traveled with a small group of NFL players on a USO tour visiting U.S. military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan ... Has traveled to China as a Patriots ambassador ... Lists photography as a hobby ... Attended Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.) High ... Had 31 receptions for 515 yards and five touchdowns as a senior ... Elected to play in Shrine Bowl senior year ... Helped lead the team to the state championship his junior year ... Member of National Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes ... Majored in finance at Georgia ... Benjamin and his wife Kirsten have a daughter, Grace Mikayla.
 

• In January 2008, Benjamin and his wife Kirsten, announced the start of their charitable foundation, called "One More". Additional information is available at www.watsononemore.com.
• Benjamin comes from an athletic family. His father, Ken, played linebacker for the University of Maryland, his mother, Diana, was a synchronized swimmer at Maryland and his sister, Jessica, ran track at Coastal Carolina University and is the South Carolina high school record holder in the 800 meter race.