Roy Williams (safety)
Safety | |||||
Personal information | |||||
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Born: | Redwood City, California, U.S. | August 14, 1980||||
Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||
Weight: | 222 lb (101 kg) | ||||
Career information | |||||
High school: | Logan (Union City, California) | ||||
College: | Oklahoma | ||||
NFL draft: | 2002 / Round: 1 / Pick: 8 | ||||
Career history | |||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||
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Career NFL statistics | |||||
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Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |||||
Roy Lee Williams (born August 14, 1980), is an American former professional
Early years
Williams was born in Redwood City, California. He graduated from James Logan High School in Union City, California, where he played quarterback, wide receiver and defensive back for the Logan Colts high school football.
College career
Williams attended the University of Oklahoma, and played for coach
In 2001, his junior season at Oklahoma, he won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation's top overall defensive player and also won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back, while leading the team to a 10-2 record and a win over the Arkansas Razorbacks in the Cotton Bowl Classic. He was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team Big 12 selection, and recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American.[5][6] Williams decided to forgo his final year of eligibility to enter the NFL draft.
Nicknamed "Superman" while at Oklahoma, Williams is remembered at OU for his actions in the 2001
This play has been immortalized on a mural plaque at the Roy Williams Strength and Speed Complex at the University of Oklahoma. The complex is named for Williams both for his athletic achievements and for his donation of approximately $100,000 towards its construction.[5]
Professional career
Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 ft 0+3⁄8 in (1.84 m) |
219 lb (99 kg) |
32+1⁄2 in (0.83 m) |
10+1⁄2 in (0.27 m) |
4.53 s | 1.60 s | 2.61 s | 30.5 in (0.77 m) |
9 ft 7 in (2.92 m) |
13 reps | |||
All values from NFL Combine[7][8] |
Dallas Cowboys
Williams was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round with the eighth overall pick of the 2002 NFL draft after a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs.[9] He was known throughout the league for his hard hitting and his tackling skills during running plays. With the arrival of Ken Hamlin from Seattle, Williams had the luxury to move closer to the line of scrimmage to blitz and cover short passes during nickel or dime situations.
As a rookie in 2002, he was moved to
In 2003, Williams with the mentoring of Woodson, enjoyed a stellar season and his first trip to the Pro Bowl as he was part of the Cowboys' number one ranked defense and helped lead the team to its first playoff game since 1999.
In 2004, Woodson suffered a herniated disc in training camp and was forced to sit on the sidelines. Williams' struggles were more apparent as he was forced to play more coverage due to the inexperience and inconsistency of the Dallas cornerback position. After the season, the horse-collar tackle was banned. This action is now referred to as the "Roy Williams Rule", as the rule was introduced the 2004 season, during which Williams used the technique on plays that resulted in three significant injuries.[10]
Williams is occasionally referred to by fans as "Biscuit", in reference to a statement in a 2003 press conference by former head coach Bill Parcells who, noting Williams' weight, said that he was "a biscuit short of a linebacker".[11]
With the right cornerback position stabilized by the free agent signing of Anthony Henry in 2005, Williams was once again able to play to his best strength by roaming closer to the line of scrimmage. At the end of the 2005 NFL regular season, Williams had 2.5 sacks and three interceptions. He earned his third Pro Bowl berth in 2005 and remained a dominant force for the Dallas defense.
In early August 2006 the Dallas Cowboys signed Williams to a four-year contract extension worth $25.2 million to keep him with the team through the 2010 season.[12]
On December 17, 2007, Williams was issued a one-game suspension without pay from Commissioner
Williams announced that he would be wearing No. 38 at the start of the
Williams broke his forearm in the second game of the year against the Philadelphia Eagles. He missed four games, then on his first game back against the St. Louis Rams, he refractured the same forearm and was forced to miss the entire season on injured reserve.
On October 14, 2008, the Cowboys acquired wide receiver Roy E. Williams from the Detroit Lions,[17] making the two Pro Bowl players with identical names teammates.
On March 5, 2009, the Cowboys released Williams, per his request.
Cincinnati Bengals
Williams signed with the Cincinnati Bengals on May 6, 2009.[18]
He was placed on season-ending
NFL statistics
Year | Team | GP | TOTAL | SOLO | AST | SACK | FF | FR | FR YDS | INT | IR YDS | AVG IR | LNG IR | TD | PD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2002 | DAL | 16 | 99 | 88 | 11 | 2.0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 90 | 18 | 85 | 2 | 8 |
2003 | DAL | 16 | 72 | 55 | 17 | 2.0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 69 | 35 | 39 | 0 | 8 |
2004 | DAL | 16 | 98 | 73 | 21 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 53 | 27 | 33 | 0 | 10 |
2005 | DAL | 16 | 81 | 69 | 12 | 2.5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 52 | 17 | 46 | 1 | 10 |
2006 | DAL | 16 | 62 | 52 | 10 | 0.0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 33 | 7 | 27 | 0 | 14 |
2007 | DAL | 15 | 95 | 73 | 19 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 5 |
2008 | DAL | 3 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2009 | CIN | 4 | 28 | 19 | 9 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
2010 | CIN | 12 | 59 | 38 | 21 | 1.0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Career | 114 | 601 | 471 | 122 | 7.5 | 9 | 11 | 0 | 20 | 307 | 15 | 85 | 3 | 58 |
Key
- GP: games played
- TOTAL: total tackles
- SOLO: unassisted tackles
- AST: assisted tackles
- SACK: sacks
- FF: forced fumbles
- FR: fumble recoveries
- FR YDS: fumble return yards
- INT: interceptions
- IR YDS: interception return yards
- AVG IR: average interception return
- LNG: longest interception return
- TD: interceptions returned for touchdown
- PD: passes defensed
Retirement
On August 24, 2011, Williams announced his retirement, taking a job as a sideline reporter for
Personal life
In July 2004, Williams started the Roy Williams Safety Net Foundation which was inspired by his sister Alecia, a single mother raising a young son. The Foundation's purpose is to help ensure low-income single mothers receive support, guidance, and assistance to enhance their quality of life.[20]
Williams was engaged to singer Kelly Rowland for a year.[21] Williams' aunt is Vecepia Towery, the winner of Survivor: Marquesas.[22] Williams has three children with his wife Kristy, whom he has known since middle school.[23]
References
- ^ "The Dirtiest Player in All Of Sports". Bleacher Report.
- ^ "26 Dirtiest NFL Players Of All-Time". July 11, 2019.
- ^ "Safety Roy Williams turns down contract offer, takes media job". August 24, 2011.
- ^ a b Cowboys' Williams loses appeal with NFL | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle
- ^ a b c Dallas Cowboys Official Website Archived September 3, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ 2011 NCAA Football Records Book, Award Winners, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, Indiana, p. 11 (2011). Retrieved June 24, 2012.
- ^ "2002 Draft Scout Roy Williams, Oklahoma NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ "Roy Williams, Combine Results, SS - Oklahoma". nflcombineresults.com. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ "2002 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
- ^ "Horse-collar tackle banned by owners"
- ^ "Cowboys CTK: Superman Roy Williams Soars To #31"
- ^ "Cowboys sign safety Williams to 4-year contract extension"
- ^ "Cowboys safety Williams suspended for one game by NFL"
- ^ "Cowboys' Roy Williams added to NFC Pro Bowl roster to replace Sean Taylor"
- ^ It's the offseason and Greg Ellis is talking
- ^ Roy ’Boy hides from criticism
- ^ ESPN.com Cowboys acquire Williams, agree to contract extension
- ^ "NFL: Bengals sign Roy Williams". The Oklahoman. May 7, 2009. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
- ^ "Roy Williams Stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
- ^ "Program for Oklahoma single moms expands". oklahoman.com.
- ^ "Kelly Rowland Postpones Wedding Plans". People.
- ^ "Sports Beat". Sports Illustrated Vault | Si.com.
- ^ "Roy Williams on Instagram: "Happy Birthday to My Wife..."". Instagram.
External links
- Roy Williams on Twitter
- Archived Dallas Cowboys bio
- Roy Williams Safety Net Foundation
- Fresh Start by Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com, August 12, 2009