The message from Browns fans was loud in 2024. Ahead of Cleveland’s Week 7 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals, Deshaun Watson stepped onto the field at Huntington Bank Field for his introduction and was immediately met with a chorus of boos. Then came Nick Chubb’s introduction, and the mood inside the stadium flipped completely. The contrast was impossible to miss.

But as the Browns now head into the 2026 season, that sentiment hasn’t changed much. When Watson took over from Shedeur Sanders in the third quarter of the Bills’ preseason game at the same stadium, the boos came pouring in. He knew this was going to happen all along. No wonder he made one thing clear: the disdain isn’t one-sided.

Former NFL player Asante Samuel, however, cautioned him on the Say What Needs To Be Said podcast, saying: “Deshaun Watson says he doesn’t care what kind of reaction he’ll get from Browns fans. And that’s where the issue becomes a problem. I don’t care how mentally tough you think you are.

“Getting booed by the home crowd is mentally challenging to anyone. Getting booed by 80,000 people isn’t a good feeling at all. It will have an effect on his mental health. 

“If Deshaun Watson can turn that negative energy into positive energy, everything will be fine. Because I just don’t see how you fall off like that and can’t figure out how to make the correct read and anticipate throws, throw a spiral, get the football down the field. I just don’t see how quarterbacks forget to do that stuff. We don’t expect Deshaun Watson to play much at all in this game.”

Every rep that Watson takes carries significance. A misstep, turnover, or stalled drive just adds to the crowd’s frustration. And that’s what Samuel noticed during Watson’s performance in the preseason game against the Chicago Bears.

Even though he completed 11 of his 15 passes, Watson didn’t go beyond ten yards in his completions. He was not picked off or sacked, but he didn’t add any scores.

Yet, Watson believes his mental fortitude can block out the noise. 

“I just want to prove I’m capable of being the starter,” Watson confessed earlier this week. “My main focus is just trying to improve. The biggest thing I’m proud of is my mental strength. Being able to block out the noise, be able to keep smiling through everything, and being able to control my own narrative. So I think that’s the biggest thing, just my mentality. Keeping it at peace, keeping it fresh.” 

But when asked about potentially getting booed by Cleveland fans, he said: “I don’t care.”

When the boos returned, Watson didn’t hold back

Watson’s night against the Bills ended with 5 completions on 12 attempts for 36 yards and an interception in Cleveland’s 31-7 loss. But when the inevitable question about the boos came his way, the quarterback didn’t shy away from it.

“I think the whole world knows it has nothing to do with the performance,” Watson mentioned. “It’s a little bit more personal than that. So, I think it’s a disrespectful thing.

“Last time I played on this field, I tore my Achilles. That same fan base, they cheered when I got hurt. What does that have to do with anything about performance? When a person gets hurt, especially in your home stadium, and they cheer.”

That said, he hopes his changes after becoming more involved in the Cleveland community. In fact, even Shedeur Sanders, who is competing with Watson for the QB1 role, didn’t like seeing his teammate get all the hate.

“Regardless of competition, we’re all human beings. I think we all need to understand that. In this room too, we’re all humans. I don’t do things to humans that I wouldn’t want done to me.”

Deshaun Watson: The grudge that still echoes through Cleveland

Fans have a reason to be angry at Watson. He is going to make $230 million guaranteed from his time at Cleveland. But so far, his record stands at 9-10, and he has thrown for only 3,365 yards. That’s less than the 4,823 yards he threw while in Houston during the 2020 season.

Watson also sparked some concern among fans with his training camp performance. He only had a few good days of practice, scoring seven touchdowns in one. But he had also thrown nine interceptions in 12 practices. That’s not the kind of show fans would want to spend their money on.

Plus, he also served an 11-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy and is currently competing with Shedeur Sanders for the QB1 role. Those are additional reasons for him being disliked in Cleveland.

Remaining focused on what matters is a prerequisite for any NFL starting quarterback. But being unwelcome at one’s own home stadium is a different battle. Watson may project an unshakable mindset, but if the struggles continue and boos rain down, his ability to withstand that psychological weight will likely determine his performance.