Rams’ Jaylen Watson Recalls Working at Wendy’s with His Mom Before NFL Stardom: ‘I Love Her to Death, but It Was Terrible’
Rams’ Jaylen Watson Recalls Working at Wendy’s with His Mom Before NFL Stardom: ‘I Love Her to Death, but It Was Terrible’
Lexi LaneSat, March 21, 2026 at 5:00 PM UTC
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Jaylen Watson during an NFL game in 2025, Signage at a Wendy's restaurant.Credit: Brooke Sutton/Getty; Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty -
Jaylen Watson worked at Wendy's with his mom after failing to qualify academically for a USC football transfer
Watson was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022 and earned two championship rings with the team
He signed a three-year, $51 million contract with the Los Angeles Rams and reunited with old friends in California
Jaylen Watson is remembering his time spent working at a fast-food restaurant before his success in the NFL.
His mother was the manager of a local Wendy's in Augusta, Georgia, and offered him a job after he moved back in with her — as he didn't qualify academically to accept USC's transfer offer to play for the Trojans.
“I hated it. It was terrible,” Watson, 27, told reporters at the Rams' facility, according to the New York Post.
“I love her to death, but it was terrible,” he added. “You get no breaks from your mom. You go to work, you’re with your mom. You go home, you’re with your mom. You can’t even talk about work.”
At the time, Watson was making $7.25 an hour at the fast food restaurant. In April 2021, he shared a video of himself on X in the complete Wendy's uniform.
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“You might get mad, you might not have a good day at work, then you go home," he said, adding jokingly, "Guess who’s home?”
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Despite not being able to escape his mother, Watson made it clear he has nothing but love for her, and even referred to her as his "Superwoman."
Jaylen Watson during an NFL game in December 2025.Credit: Cooper Neill/Getty
“Just seeing all the sacrifices she put in ... it kind of made me push harder and strive to be something in my life," he said.
Watson was soon able to go to Washington State University, where he started his football career. From there, he was drafted to the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2022 draft.
While with the Chiefs, Watson earned two championship rings and accompanied the team to three Super Bowls. He was then recruited by the Rams as their cornerback, signing a three-year, $51 million contract with them on Wednesday, March 11.
“I really wanted to go to the Rams this offseason,” Watson said before discussing Trent McDuffie, who he played with on the Chiefs and has also transferred to the Rams. “Then, they traded for Trent, and I was like, ‘I’m not going to the Rams.’ "
As it turns out, Watson has also been able to catch up with old friends from when he attended his first school, Ventura College, and those he's met over the years.
“I had all my JUCO friends hit me up that are still out here,” he said. “I’m pretty familiar with California. I love the weather, and everyone’s so nice here.”
on People
Source: “AOL Sports”
