Former South Fayette standout Watson re-signed by Chiefs
Former South Fayette High School standout and three-time Super Bowl winner Justin Watson is back in the NFL and with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Watson, 30, was signed to the Chiefs’ practice squad Monday. He played three seasons (2022-24) with Kansas City and was on three Super Bowl teams with the Chiefs, winning two.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid explained why the team is bringing back Watson, who signed a free-agent contract, worth $5 million over two years, with the Houston Texans in 2025.
“He was a good player for us when he was here,” Reid told reporters Monday. “He can run fast, he’s got great size, he’s willing to do everything, he knows the offense. He’s a smart kid. … We felt like he could come back in as needed, contribute, and step in and go.”
Kansas City is coming off an open date and will host the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Watson could be activated in time to play in that game.
The Chiefs are short on wide receivers after Tyrone Thornton suffered a dislocated ankle in an Oct. 4 game against Las Vegas.
Watson caught 64 passes in three seasons with Kansas City. Of those 64 receptions, 49 went for first downs and seven were touchdowns.
Watson played two games with Houston in 2025 before suffering a calf/Achilles injury that landed him on the Reserve/Injured list until the season finale. He appeared on special teams for Houston in the postseason and was released at the end of training camp this summer.
Watson entered the league as a fifth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2018. The 6-2, 215-pound receiver helped the Bucs beat the Chiefs in Super Bowl LV.
Watson won two WPIAL and one PIAA championship at South Fayette and went on to have a stellar career in the Ivy League at Pennsylvania.