The future of Deshaun Watson with the Cleveland Browns hangs in the balance, yet another chapter of his life has taken a more solidified turn. On Sunday, Watson and his long-time lover, Jilly Anais, made a joint announcement on Instagram, revealing their engagement with a caption that read, "Mrs. Watson loading..." accompanied by a picture of Anais displaying a dazzling diamond ring as Watson embraced her, his gaze filled with affection.
Watson left a comment on the post, penning, "MORE GLORY" followed by a prayer emoji, expressing his elation and gratitude. Their romance blossomed in 2019 after they first crossed paths in Los Angeles, and now, both aged 29, their bond has grown stronger. Anais, who boasts nearly 2.5 million followers on social media, is a talented singer, actress, and cookbook author.
Through a tumultuous period in 2021 and 2022, where Watson faced accusations of sexual assault and harassment from over two dozen women during massage therapy sessions in Houston when he played for the Texans, the couple stood by each other's side. Despite these accusations, two grand juries declined to indict him, and he settled all but one of the civil lawsuits against him.
After being traded from the Texans to the Browns, Watson was suspended by the NFL for the first 11 games of the 2022 season and fined $5 million for violating the league's personal conduct policy. The Browns have twice restructured his contract over the past three months to gain financial flexibility, with Cleveland holding insurance that protects the deal and potentially providing some cap relief from the NFL if Watson misses the entire 2025 season due to his ruptured right Achilles tendon, an injury he first sustained during a loss to the Bengals in October 2024 and ruptured again in January.
Since joining the Browns and signing a fully guaranteed $230 million contract, Watson has only played in 19 games. He made just six starts in 2023 before a season-ending shoulder injury and seven starts last year before the Achilles tendon injury sidelined him again. The Browns, who finished 3-14 in 2024, hold the second pick in April's NFL draft and have recently hosted prospects like Shedeur Sanders from Colorado and Cam Ward from Miami. They also acquired Kenny Pickett in a trade with Philadelphia at the start of free agency and hosted free agent Russell Wilson for a visit last Thursday, as they look to build a brighter future.
