In a significant development Friday morning, two lawsuits accusing NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual assault were dismissed according to Harris County court records. The dismissal marks the conclusion of extensive legal proceedings related to allegations made during Watson’s tenure as the Houston Texans‘ starting quarterback.
While attorneys representing both Watson and the plaintiffs confirmed the cases were dismissed, they declined to offer any further statements regarding the outcome.
Details on the Dismissals and Legal Proceedings
The lawsuits were both dismissed with prejudice, which means they cannot be refiled. These two remaining cases were among a larger group of 27 lawsuits filed between 2021 and 2024 that accused Watson of sexual misconduct. The allegations typically involved women hired to provide massages, who then claimed that Watson sexually harassed or assaulted them, including charges of exposure, unwanted touching, and forced sexual acts.
One lawsuit dated back to 2021, with the other filed in 2024. Although most other cases had settled by 2022, these two continued and were set for trial early this year. Watson’s legal team had planned to argue for dismissal during a civil court hearing scheduled Thursday, which was ultimately canceled. On Friday, attorneys for the plaintiffs filed notices of nonsuit to end the cases, but no settlement details were revealed.
Background of Accusations and Watson’s Response
Deshaun Watson has consistently denied all allegations of misconduct throughout the legal battles. His lawyer, Rusty Hardin, publicly dismissed the latest lawsuit as disingenuous. Meanwhile, the NFL imposed an 11-game suspension and a $5 million fine on Watson following the accusations.
In 2022, the Cleveland Browns acquired Watson in a trade, signing him to a $230 million guaranteed contract. He spent the entire 2023 season sidelined due to recovery from an Achilles injury but returned recently to Houston for a deposition related to one of the pending lawsuits.
Implications for Watson and the Wider Sports Community
The dismissal of these final lawsuits could allow Deshaun Watson to move forward without the ongoing shadow of legal challenges clouding his career. It also closes a painful chapter for the women involved and for the legal system, which handled an unusually high number of claims. This legal closure may affect how similar future cases involving athletes and allegations of misconduct are handled by the courts and sports organizations.
Watson’s future in the NFL remains under scrutiny given his history and the suspension, but the legal dismissals remove significant obstacles concerning civil litigation. Observers now await how the league and the Cleveland Browns will address Watson’s return to full participation in games and team activities.
About the Reporter and Coverage
This article is based on reports by John Wayne Ferguson, a general assignment and breaking news reporter for the Houston Chronicle. Ferguson, a University of New Hampshire graduate, joined the Chronicle in 2022 and previously reported for The Galveston County Daily News.
