We’re getting closer to the Super Bowl now and, of course, the talk is about the ‘3-peat’, Mahomes, and Hurts. Aren’t you guys tired? Can’t blame you though, but you’ve to see other matchups. Well, there are the cornerbacks of the Chiefs who are going to be under scanner against the Eagles. Be it McDuffie, Williams, or even Jaylen Watson, for that matter. Oh, Watson, how can we forget him, geez he was the one who helped the defense in the Houston game in the playoffs. But there’s more to him than that, mind you.

I mean, the Chiefs’ CB had an injury before that game and still, he rose to the occasion. You know what’s cool, it wasn’t very long ago when this guy used to work at a QSR, and now he’s in the Super Bowl. That’s some journey, right? But his journey has more challenges than that, especially when you’ll read about his family background.

Who are Jaylen Watson’s parents?

Jaylen Watson’s mom, Latoya Pillow, is the real MVP of his story. She was working at the Wendy’s while juggling all the family stuff. A single mom, making sacrifices left and right just to keep things afloat. That’s her, a true warrior. Her dedication didn’t just stop at putting food on the table—she was Jaylen’s biggest hype person. Whether he wanted to be an actor, a rapper, or a football star, she was always in his corner, cheering him on. “I wanted to be an actor, a rapper, whatever, she was always there to support me. She’s like my super-woman,” Jaylen said.

When college football hit a roadblock for Jaylen, he found himself back home in Augusta, Georgia. Jobless and unsure, his mom stepped up and offered him a gig at Wendy’s. Sounds sweet, right? Well, not exactly. Working for your mom wasn’t that soothing at all for him. Jaylen quickly learned that there were no breaks, no escaping her watchful eye—work and home blended together like a never-ending shift. But guess what? It only made him push harder. “Just seeing all the sacrifices she put in, to get me and my sister everything we wanted, it kind of makes me push harder and strive to be something in my life,” said Jaylen. Her daily grind at that time has probably got him where he is today.

Jaylen Watson’s dad, Jason Watson, wasn’t really in the picture during his upbringing. His mom was the main force behind everything, working hard to support Jaylen and his sister. It was just Jaylen, his mom, and his sister, with his mom doing the heavy lifting to make sure they had everything they needed.

Where did Jaylen grow up?

Jaylen Watson grew up in Augusta, Georgia, where he spent his high school years at Lucy Craft Laney and Curtis Baptist. After high school, he packed his bags and headed to Ventura College in California. And just when you think it’s all sorted, life hits back at you—he didn’t qualify academically to transfer to USC. So, he found himself back home, working at Wendy’s with his mom to make ends meet.

Determined not to give up, Jaylen eventually made his way to Washington State, where he became a starting cornerback. And then the pandemic came, which didn’t help his case at all, that halted his playing time in 2020. But Jaylen didn’t let that stop him, he kept grinding, and by the end of 2021, he was an All-Pac-12 honorable mention again. This was the moment for him, as Scouts took notice of his 6’2″ frame and, of course, his top game. And before he knew it, the Kansas City Chiefs came calling in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Draft day was nerve-wracking, but hearing his name called was worth every bit of the stress.

When he joined the Chiefs, he just took off. In Week 2 of his rookie season, he had his first interception and took it 99 yards to the house for a touchdown. His performance earned him AFC Defensive Player of the Week, and he’s been a key player for the Chiefs ever since.