Benjamin Watson was born on December 18, 1980 in Norfolk, Virginia. Currently, Benjamin plays tight end for the New England Patriots and has been a member of the team since he was drafted with the 32nd pick in the 1st round of the National Football League’s 2004 draft.

It didn’t take long for Benjamin to develop a love for sports and his athletic talent can be traced directly back to his work ethic and more importantly his genetics. Watson’s parents were both varsity athletes at the University of Maryland, father Ken was a line-backer and mother Diana was a synchronized swimmer, while his sister Jessica holds the high school state record for the 800 meter run in the state of South Carolina.

Prior to the NFL, Benjamin played football at Northwestern High School in Rock Hill, South Carolina, where he helped lead his team to a state championship during his junior year. Watson was named all-area and all-region in both his junior and senior years, as well as an all-state selection his senior year of high school. During his time here at Northwestern High School, Benjamin joined the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Throughout his years in high school, college and now as a member of the New England Patriots, Benjamin continues to be active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and has most recently acted as a spokesperson for the organization.

After high school, Watson went to Duke University for a year before transferring to the University of Georgia to play the remainder of his college football career. While at Georgia, Benjamin played in 37 games, accumulating 26 starts. He graduated in May of 2003 with a BBA in Finance before finishing his senior season with the Bulldogs.

In his spare time, Benjamin Watson practices photography as a hobby and is an avid world traveler with his wife Kirsten. During the 2007 off-season, Benjamin’s travels took him to Iraq and Afghanistan where he joined a small group of NFL players on a USO tour to visit troops fighting oversees. Later that year he and Kirsten represented the New England Patriots and Reebok International in Beijing, China. In addition to traveling, the Watsons find time to volunteer with a number of charity organizations including Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Boys and Girls Clubs, Salvation Army, local reading programs and much more.

Photography: Enid Ricci Photography