Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has taken another major step toward closing the chapter on his long-running legal controversies.
More than five years after accusations of sexual misconduct first surfaced, the last two civil lawsuits pending against him have now been dismissed, effectively ending the outstanding litigation tied to those claims.
Watson‘s off-field issues began during his tenure with the Houston Texans, when several massage therapists alleged inappropriate and non-consensual conduct during private appointments in 2020 and early 2021. Over the past five years, 27 women filed civil lawsuits against Watson.
Most of these cases were resolved through confidential settlements, one was withdrawn shortly after filing, and the final two were scheduled for trial in early 2026. Those trials, however, never occurred, as the plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed the cases before they reached the courtroom.
Final lawsuits dismissed, ending legal saga
The dismissals, which took place on January 6, 2026, mark the end of active civil litigation against Watson related to these allegations. One of the plaintiffs was represented by attorney Tony Buzbee, who had been involved in nearly all of the earlier cases.
Following the dismissals, Buzbee confirmed that his involvement in Watson‘s legal matters had concluded, stating simply, “Case is settled. That’s all I can say about it. That’s the last case, so that ends my involvement with Deshaun Watson litigation.”
Watson has consistently denied any wrongdoing, asserting that some encounters were consensual and rejecting claims of coercion. While details of the dismissals were not publicly disclosed, legal analysts suggest that, similar to the other cases, settlements likely played a role.
The final resolutions prevent these claims from being refiled and allow Watson to move forward without active civil litigation hanging over him.
The allegations and lawsuits also led to disciplinary action by the NFL, which suspended Watson for 11 games in 2022 and fined him $5 million under the league’s personal conduct policy.
Despite these off-field challenges, the Texans traded him to the Browns in a blockbuster deal worth $230 million in guaranteed money, one of the most lucrative in NFL history.
Watson, however, has not yet been able to fully deliver on the field. Injuries, including a ruptured Achilles tendon in 2025, have limited his playtime, leaving fans and the organization eager to see whether he can return to peak performance.
With the legal issues now behind him, attention will turn to his recovery, his ability to lead the Browns, and whether he can finally justify the enormous contract that brought him to Cleveland.
Although Watson‘s off-field controversies once dominated headlines, the dismissal of his final lawsuits provides a clean slate.
