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Happy (Super Bowl) Sunday! 🐶

Last week’s story focused on a player looking to end his 12-year championship drought.

Today’s is about a guy on the other sideline.

But just a few years ago, his future looked bleak.

He was completely out of football, working the drive-thru at Wendy’s. Tonight, he’ll try to secure his second ring in his first two NFL seasons.

Here’s what’s coming today:

• An unconventional road to the Super Bowl

• The walk-on mentality of a legendary tight end

• “People laughed at him…ask them what they think now.”

Let’s dive in 👇

From Wendy’s Drive-Thru to His 2nd Super Bowl in 2 Years

"If you went back and told me this story, I wouldn’t have believed it."

From working the drive-thru at his hometown Wendy’s to becoming an impact player in the Super Bowl, cornerback Jaylen Watson has traveled a long road to the NFL.

The Augusta, Georgia native was a quiet kid growing up, but his passion for football was always evident.

From the time he first stepped on the field, Watson knew that defense was where he belonged.

In high school, the 6-foot-2 lanky-framed kid helped lock down receivers and shut down opposing offenses.

But the offers from DI programs weren’t trickling in like he hoped they would.

With his highlight tape getting little exposure, Watson had to find another way.

He decided to send his film to Ventura College – a JUCO in California – because it was the only one he knew that had accepted a player from Augusta.

Despite the school being 2,385 miles from home, Jaylen committed to the only team to offer him a chance to play college football.

In his first game at Ventura, Watson picked off the opposition three times, returned two for a score, and from there, became one of the hottest targets in all of JUCO.

During his time at Ventura, Jaylen won several major awards:

• 1st Team Western State Conference

• 1st Team All-State

• 1st Team All-American (2x)

Soon, Watson accumulated more than 40 offers from programs across the country. But there was one place he wanted to go more than any.

USC.

Watson committed to the Trojans after his first and only visit. But there were issues that he still needed to iron out.

Unfortunately, Jaylen fell behind with his grades in his freshman year.

But after trying to play catchup as a sophomore, his workload became too much to handle.

He failed a class at Ventura.

And failing a class meant he would not be eligible to transfer to any Division I program in the entire country – let alone a prestigious program like USC.

Taking summer classes was the next step. But after his dream of playing for the Trojans was crushed, his focus and his GPA started to drop.

Ultimately, Jaylen decided to go back home.

While working to build up his grades, he needed cash to pay the bills. So he found a job.

The only place that would hire him was a Wendy’s store his mother managed.

His experience wasn’t fun, to say the least, but at a time when he needed them most, his family was there for him.

"So I started making $7.25 an hour there, which was horrible," he recalled.

"But I also think working at Wendy's showed me how much I didn't want to live that lifestyle."

It was around this time when a switch flipped in him.

"I feel like that job made me a man."

Jaylen found his spark of passion again and realized that to get out of the situation he was in, he was going to have to grind it out.

“My mom, she always believed in me, always kept pushing me," he said.

"Just watching her sacrifice so much...it really pushed me. It gave me that extra push to be something.”

That’s when he went back to school in his hometown, got his grades up (six A's), and became eligible to once again join a DI program.

Jaylen was ready for his next opportunity, and Washington State came calling.

In his two seasons with the Cougars, Watson proved to those who had forgotten about him that he was not someone to be messed with.

In 15 games, Watson totaled 44 tackles, 2 INTs, and was a team captain for his final season.

Despite his resurgence, Jaylen was not projected to go in the 2022 NFL Draft.

In a class where Sauce Gardner and Derek Stingley Jr. dominated the cornerback discussion, Watson was an afterthought.

However, with the 243rd pick, the Kansas City Chiefs decided to select the All-Conference corner from Augusta.

It was a dream come true, and for Watson, it was validation for all the work he put in from such a young age.

"I was never given anything," Watson told Chiefs.com.

"I've had to work for everything. I think that gives me an edge on the football field."

But the story didn't end there.

In his second game in the NFL, in front of America on Thursday Night Football, Watson had his "Welcome to the NFL" moment.

He intercepted Chargers’ QB Justin Herbert and returned it 99 yards for a touchdown to help propel his team to victory in Week 2 of the season.

And it only got better for him.

After cornerback Trent McDuffie – Kansas City's first-round pick and the cornerback chosen over Watson in the draft – went down, Jaylen embraced the "next man up" mentality.

He started in 8 games, including the playoffs, and was a big piece of the Chiefs’ secondary during their Super Bowl run.

After everything that had happened, from his lowest point working at Wendy’s, to his time in JUCO and at Washington State, Jaylen Watson made it to the Super Bowl in his first year in the NFL.

In storybook fashion, the man who was doubted, the man who was initially unable to fulfill his dream, slammed the book closed on the 2022 NFL season surrounded by his family, a whole bunch of confetti, and the Lombardi Trophy.

Tonight, he’ll look to win his 2nd ring in as many seasons.

“If you went back and told me this story, I wouldn’t have believed it,” Watson said.

“It’s a dream come true."

👉 This week’s story was written by Zach Garrett, creator and founder of Snagged Sports.

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TOP STORIES 🗞️

🏀 “People laughed at him. Nobody took him seriously.” Before the NBA, Buddy Hield was just an 11-year-old boy with a dream that most never thought possible. [Bleacher Report]

💪 “That’s what life is — response. How do you respond?” This is the story of Dallas Clark, from Iowa walk-on to legendary NFL tight end. [Tyler Dunne @ Go Long]

🏆 Division III stories are overlooked in the national media.  Here’s how one player and eight coaches with D3 ties made it to Super Bowl Sunday [D3 Direct]

FEEL-GOOD POST ☀️

This might be the opposite of “feel-good” if you try this recipe 🤢 but I love seeing small school guys succeed. Ben Bartch will be making his fellow D3 alums proud when he takes the field tonight!

Thanks for reading! 🤝 

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Tyler

Extra Innings…

• In case you missed it: A 2-hour phone call saved this guy from quitting on his dream. Now he’s playing in the Super Bowl.

• Flyers coach John Tortorella reads every piece of fan mail. His recent reply to one man’s letter made headlines in Philly.

• Fun find: I use Meco to catch up on all my favorite newsletters away from my ever-growing inbox of unread emails. I highly recommend it.*

• My favorite subscriber reply from last week: “Nice to see overlooked underdogs get their stories told! Please keep it up and thank you!”

• Love reading my work? A few folks were asking, so I revived this virtual “tip jar” where you can buy me a coffee and directly support this newsletter.

• If you made it this far: Meet your new favorite journalist.

*This is a sponsored recommendation, which means I’d get a small kickback if you download the Meco app (which is free). I use it almost every day!