Deshaun Watson announced the death of his father on Friday – just two days before the Cleveland Browns’ season opener against the Dallas Cowboys.
The 28-year-old star quarterback took to Instagram to share the news, posting, “Rest in Peace Pops,” with a broken heart and praying hands emoji behind a black background.
No immediate details were revealed on how his dad, Don Richardson, died and if it affects Watson’s availability on Sunday.
The former Houston Texan was reportedly estranged from his father, who left the family when he was young.
During his time with the Texans, Watson told the Houston Chronicle in 2017 he remembered only seeing his dad a handful of times while growing up and that his “mom was basically my mother and father.”
“My friends had fathers,” Watson said. “But, for me, it was just kind of, ‘Hey, my mother is the one that I’m going to rely on and I’ll always focus on.’”
Instead of using Richardson as his last name, the star quarterback chose to go by his mom’s surname.
The quarterback built up his resume by notching three Pro Bowl appearances while in Houston before being traded to the Browns in 2022.
That same year, Watson was suspended for 11 games after being accused of sexual misconduct by over two dozen women.
The quarterback faces a pivotal campaign this year after leading Cleveland to a 5-1 start – only to have season-ending surgery on his throwing shoulder in 2023.