TNF viewers made uncomfortable by Deshaun Watson interview on Prime Video pregame show
TNF viewers made uncomfortable by Deshaun Watson interview on Prime Video pregame show
Joseph McBride Fri, October 2, 2026 at 1:21 AM UTC
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Deshaun Watson spoke to Taylor Rooks in a feature that aired before TNF -Credit:Amazon
Cleveland Browns quarterback conducted an honest interview with Amazon Prime before Thursday Night Football, but the segment left viewers feeling uncomfortable.
The Browns hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers on TNF, as Week 4 of the new NFL season got underway with an AFC North clash. Watson has been the Browns' starting quarterback this season after repeated injuries sidelined him for the entire 2025 season.
Watson remains a highly controversial figure due to his off-field problems, and he even clashed with his own fans during the preseason. So, when feature reporter Taylor Rooks sat down with Watson to discuss how he's perceived and the hardships he's faced, it upset NFL fans, given some of the allegations he has faced in the past.
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Rooks and Watson discussed his violation of the league's Personal Conduct Policy, which resulted in an 11-game suspension during the 2022 season. They then spoke about his repeated injury setbacks, and the interview's purpose was to reveal a new side of Watson.
However, Rooks and Amazon have since faced backlash from angry TNF fans who are unhappy with the intent behind it. "The NFL and Amazon trying to push a Deshaun Watson sob story on us. Oh I'm so sure," one angry fan wrote on X.
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"First soundbite in the Amazon interview with Deshaun Watson… he talks about the world being against him and can he forgive," another wrote. "Does he have this backwards?"
A third added, "Taylor Rooks asked Deshaun Watson on the Amazon pregame show how he makes sense of his ups and downs on the field and the first thing he pointed to was his mental state. Specifically mentioned dealing with 'the world kind of flipping against me.'"
The outraged comments continued to come, with one user posting, "Deshaun Watson trying to play victim on pregame show is quite something. Geez Amazon..."
Another said, "Amazon Prime is really doing a 'I know everyone thinks you're a bad guy, but you're playing well, so you can't be THAT bad a person, right?' interview with Deshaun Watson."
One user was extremely unhappy, writing, "Honestly f--- Amazon for giving an interview to Deshaun Watson. He doesn’t deserve a platform and certainly doesn’t deserve to be on that field."
More to follow...
Source: “AOL Sports”
