ESPN’s Troy Aikman Torches ‘Albatross’ Deshaun Watson While Talking About Cleveland Browns’ Disastrous Season

ESPN announcer Troy Aikman didn’t hold back in his brutal assessment of the Cleveland Browns’ failures when Deshaun Watson was the starting quarterback.

In 2022, the Browns gave Watson a 5-year, $230 million contract extension. So far, that massive financial commitment has not led to much success on the field. That was only amplified in the 2024-25 season when Watson was 1-6 as a starter before getting shut down for the season with a torn Achilles tendon.

Jameis Winston was then thrust into the starting role. Going into Monday night’s game against the Denver Broncos, he was 2-2.

During the second quarter of that game, Aikman took a moment to elaborate on the team’s disastrous season and wondered how the Browns would have fared if Watson wasn’t the starting QB at first.

“You know, this is a tough league,” Aikman said. “And we all talk about parity; but when it comes to your hometown team, nobody wants to hear it. And [Browns coach Kevin Stefanski] is an outstanding football coach and he’s proven that. Two-time Coach of the Year. What he did to that group last year to get them in the postseason — they started four quarterbacks, they were decimated with injuries. And I get it. You know, this year hasn’t been what people thought coming in; but the albatross is Deshaun Watson that. If you go to Jameis Winston earlier in the year, does this look different? Because I would say the defensive struggles, in at least a small part, have had to do with how inept the offense has been moving the football. I think it’s affected the defensive play, as well.”

Watch above via ESPN