Pat Williams (American football)

Pat Williams

refer to caption

Pat Williams in the 2009 Pro Bowl.
No. 94
Position: Defensive tackle
Personal information
Date of birth: (1972-10-24) October 24, 1972
Place of birth: Monroe, Louisiana
Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight: 317 lb (144 kg)
Career information
High school: Monroe (LA) Wossman
College: Texas A&M
Undrafted: 1997
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Tackles: 566
Quarterback sacks: 20.5
Interceptions: 1
Forced fumbles: 7
Player stats at NFL.com

Patrick "Pat" Williams Sr. (born October 24, 1972) is a former American football defensive tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL) for fourteen seasons. He played college football for Texas A&M University. He was signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 1997. Williams also played for the Minnesota Vikings, with whom he was a three-time Pro Bowl selection.

College career

After graduating from Wossman High School in Monroe, Louisiana, Williams attended Navarro College, where he was a two-time junior college All-American in 1992 and 1993. He initially transferred to Texas A&M University in 1994, but failed the math portion of a junior-college exit exam and was ruled ineligible for the 1994 season. He transferred again to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, where he graduated in 1995, before returning to Texas A&M. Williams earned 2nd-team All-SWC as a junior in 1995 in only 6 starts. He also started 8 games and appeared in 11 as a senior.

Professional career

Buffalo Bills

Williams went undrafted in the 1997 NFL Draft, and signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent the same year. He played in just one game his rookie season. During the 1998–2000 seasons, he was a regular contributor, but did not become a regular starter until the 2001 season. In 2000, he was named to USA Today’s All-Joe Team, recognizing the NFL’s most "overlooked, ignored and hard-working" players.[1] Williams intercepted his first career pass and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown, picking off Miami Dolphins quarterback A.J. Feeley on December 5, 2004, sealing the win for Buffalo 42-32 and breaking open a 3-point game with 1:55 left to play.[1] Williams was named 2003 winner of the Ed Block Courage Award by his teammates.[1] During his final four seasons with the Bills (2001–2004), he started in all but four games. He became a free agent after the 2004 season.

Minnesota Vikings

Prior to the 2005 season, Williams signed with the Minnesota Vikings, the 1st signing for the team in 2005 free agency and a priority signing. Following an advice by then defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin, Williams lost 15 pounds in the offseason. Williams played nose tackle in the Minnesota Vikings 4-3 defense, with teammate Kevin Williams playing the Under Tackle position. They were known collectively as the "Williams Wall" as well as the "Williams Wrecking Crew" due to their physical presence at the line of scrimmage, an attribute that helped them lead the Vikings to the best rushing defense in the league for three consecutive seasons (2006-2008). As a player for the Vikings, he was selected to his first Pro Bowl in 2006, and followed with consecutive selections in 2007 and 2008. He was also a second-team All-Pro selection in 2007.

On December 2, 2008, Pat and teammate Kevin Williams were suspended for 4 games by the league for violating its anti-doping policy, for use of a diuretic, which can be used a masking agent for steroid use.[2][3] It is believed that the diuretic was found in a weight-loss supplement that he had been taking.[2] Williams, along with Kevin Williams, appealed the suspension to a Minnesota federal court; the judge ruled against the NFL's decision and allowed all suspended players, including Williams, to play until a further review of the case.

On April 28, 2011, the Minnesota Supreme Court declined to consider Williams' appeal of the case, clearing the way for the NFL to suspend Williams.[4]

In the 2009 season, Williams made 44 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles. He announced that he might retire after the season, but decided to come back for one more year in 2010.[5] He was the oldest defensive player in the NFL.

On March 2, 2011, Williams announced that he would not re-sign with the Vikings for the 2011 season. "Everything’s good. I am not coming back. Going to go finish elsewhere." He ended his NFL career playing nose tackle when he retired. [6]

On April 23, 2013, Pat Williams signed a one day contract so that he could retire as a Minnesota Viking.

Now, Pat Williams coaches at Sterlington High School as a defensive line coach.

NFL stats

Year Team Games Combined Tackles Tackles Assisted Tackles Sacks Forced Fumbles Fumble Recoveries
1998 BUF 13 12 11 1 3.5 0 0
1999 BUF 16 32 25 7 2.5 1 0
2000 BUF 16 55 37 18 2.5 1 2
2001 BUF 13 59 41 18 1.5 0 0
2002 BUF 16 83 53 30 0.5 2 1
2003 BUF 16 81 54 27 0.0 0 1
2004 BUF 16 53 37 16 2.5 0 1
2005 MIN 16 66 41 25 1.5 1 0
2006 MIN 16 44 37 7 1.0 1 0
2007 MIN 16 62 43 19 2.0 0 2
2008 MIN 14 44 31 13 1.0 0 1
2009 MIN 15 44 34 10 2.0 2 0
2010 MIN 16 30 22 8 0.0 1 0
Career 199 665 466 199 20.5 9 8

[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Minnesota Vikings Bio
  2. 1 2 "NFL Suspends Six Players for Doping Violations". Sports Illustrated. 2008-12-02. Archived from the original on December 5, 2008.
  3. ↑ "NFL suspends six players for four games each".
  4. ↑
  5. ↑ Scoggins, Chip (2010-02-17). "Vikings Expect Williams to Return". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2010-04-28.
  6. ↑ http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/03/pat-williams-no-longer-trusts-the-vikings/
  7. ↑ "Pat Williams Stats". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved 7 July 2014.

External links


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