Jamal Williams

Jamal Williams
Williams with the San Diego Chargers in 2008
No. 76
PositionNose tackle
Personal information
Born (1976-04-28) April 28, 1976
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight348 lb (158 kg)
Career information
High schoolArchbishop Carroll (Washington, D.C.)
CollegeOklahoma State
Supplemental draft1998: 2nd round
Career history
Awards and highlights
Career NFL statistics
Tackles443
Sacks13
Forced fumbles4
Fumble recoveries3
Passes defended22
Interceptions1
Defensive touchdowns1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Jamal Williams (born April 28, 1976) is an American former professional football player who was a nose tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for thirteen seasons. He was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 1998 Supplemental Draft. He played college football for Oklahoma State Cowboys. After three consecutive All-Pro seasons (2004, 2005, 2006) in the NFL.

Early life

Born in Washington, D. C., Williams was one of seven children. He was raised in Washington and Louisville, Kentucky, by his mother Harriet, a juvenile corrections officer in Louisville.[1] As a senior at Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington, Williams earned Super Prep All-American honors in 1993.[2][3]

Williams attended Oklahoma State University. A sociology major, he played for the Cowboys in 1995 and 1997 under head coach Bob Simmons.[2]

Due to academic ineligibility at Oklahoma State, Williams transferred to Kemper Military School and Junior College in 1996.[2][4] He returned to Oklahoma State in the 1997 spring semester.[2][5] Williams did not play football at Kemper, in order to "focus on academics," reported The Oklahoman.[6] For the 1997 season, he was a first-team All-Big 12 Conference selection. He finished his college career with 117 tackles and 9.5 sacks.[2]

In February 1998, Simmons suspended Williams indefinitely due to an unspecified violation of team rules.[7] Although Williams did not declare for the 1998 NFL draft, he applied for the supplemental draft "because of academic reasons," reported Reuters in July 1998.[8]

Professional career

San Diego Chargers

Williams was selected in the second round of the 1998 NFL supplemental draft by the San Diego Chargers.[9] As a rookie in 1998, he played nine games with 6 tackles (5 solo), 1 pass deflection, and 1 interception returned for a touchdown. In 1999, he recorded 26 tackles (22 solo), 1 sack, and 2 pass deflections in 16 games (2 starts). In 2000, Williams finished with 52 tackles (45 solo), 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble in 16 starts.[1]

He suffered a season-ending injury in the 3rd game of the 2001 season and finished with just 2 solo tackles. However, he worked his way back into the starting line-up in 2002, earning the Ed Block Courage Award for his efforts. Williams recorded 23 tackles (19 solo), 2.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 2 pass deflections in 12 games during the 2002 season. During the 2003 season, Williams posted totals of 33 tackles (24 solo), 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, and 1 pass deflection in 15 games.

The Chargers switched to a 3-4 defensive scheme in 2004 and fielded Williams at nose tackle, arguably the most important position in the 3-4 defense. Williams recorded 32 tackles (25 solo), 4 sacks, and 4 pass deflections in 15 games. He became widely recognized as one of the top 3-4 nose tackles in the NFL and was named an AP 2nd Team All-Pro, and was also selected as the Chargers' Defensive Player of the Year as well as Lineman of the Year. In the 2005 season, Williams recorded 53 tackles (40 solo) and 4 pass deflections in 16 games and was named a Pro Bowl starter and was named first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press and The Sporting News, He Again Was Selected Chargers Defensive Player of the year And Lineman of the year for the Second Time in his Career. He finished the 2006 season with 69 tackles (49 solo), 2 sacks, and 2 pass deflections in 16 games and was again named a Pro Bowl starter, as well as first-team All-Pro by the AP, The Sporting News, and the Football Writers Association of America, And Was selected Chargers Lineman of the Year for the Third time in his Career.

In 2007, Peter King of Sports Illustrated ranked Williams 17th out of the 500 best active NFL players.[10]

During the 2007 season, Williams recorded 39 tackles (32 solo), 1 forced fumble, and 2 pass deflections in 13 games and was named a Pro Bowl reserve following the season. Williams finished 2008 with 56 tackles (46 solo), 1.5 sacks, and 3 pass deflections in 16 games, Williams Was Selected Chargers Defensive Player of the Year (For The Third Time In his Career), Lineman of the Year (For The fourth Time In His Career) And Co-Most Valuable Player With Philip Rivers. In 2009, Williams suffered a season-ending triceps injury in the first game and finished with just 3 solo tackles. He was named to the Chargers 50th Anniversary Team that year.[11] On March 4, 2010, Williams was released by the Chargers.[12]

Williams was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame in 2022.[13]

Denver Broncos

At a game in Denver in September 2010.

On March 9, 2010, Williams signed a 3-year, $16-million contract with the Broncos with $7-million guaranteed and an additional $6-million available through incentives.[14]

On March 3, 2011, the Broncos released Williams.[15]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Bold Career high

Regular season

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GPGSCombSoloAstSckIntYdsTDLngFFFRYdsTD
1998SDG 906510.01141140000
1999SDG 162262241.000000000
2000SDG 1616534671.000001000
2001SDG 332200.000000100
2002SDG 1210242042.500001000
2003SDG 1515332491.000001000
2004SDG 1515322574.000000000
2005SDG 16165340130.000000100
2006SDG 16166949202.000000000
2007SDG 1313393270.000001100
2008SDG 16155646101.500000000
2009SDG 113300.000000000
2010DEN 16164731160.000000000
Career1641384433459813.01141144300

Playoffs

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GPGSCombSoloAstSckIntYdsTDLngFFFRYdsTD
2004SDG 110000.000000000
2006SDG 113300.000000000
2007SDG 336240.000000000
2008SDG 229270.000000000
Career77187110.000000000

Personal life

From 1999 to 2002, Williams was married to Surel Davis. They have two children.[16]

References

  1. 1 2 "Jamal Williams". Denver Broncos. Archived from the original on December 29, 2010. Retrieved August 20, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Jamal Williams Bio Info". NFL. Archived from the original on August 3, 2003. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
  3. ↑ Hersom, Bob (January 31, 1994). "Prep All-American Gives OSU Nod". The Oklahoman. p. 16. Retrieved August 21, 2026 – via NewsBank.
  4. ↑ Bentley, Mac (June 25, 1996). "OSU Loses 3 to Academic Woes". The Oklahoman. p. 23. Retrieved August 21, 2026 – via NewsBank.
  5. ↑ "Oklahoma State Football Spring Report". Oklahoma State University. April 17, 1997. Archived from the original on July 20, 1997. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
  6. ↑ Rodgers, Mark (February 9, 1997). "Recruiting Is Finally Over". The Oklahoman. Retrieved August 21, 2026 – via NewsBank.
  7. ↑ "Simmons Suspends Pair". The Oklahoman. February 25, 1998. p. 23. Retrieved August 21, 2026 – via NewsBank.
  8. ↑ Reuters (July 10, 1998). "OSU's Williams Second-Round Pick". The Oklahoman. p. 21. Retrieved August 21, 2026 – via NewsBank. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  9. ↑ "1998 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  10. ↑ King, Peter (August 28, 2007). "The King 500: Ranking the best players in the NFL from No. 1 to 500". SI.com. Archived from the original on October 13, 2007. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Chargers 50th anniversary team". The Press-Enterprise. Archived from the original on December 18, 2009.
  12. ↑ Williamson, Bill (March 4, 2010). "Busy day in San Diego: Williams released". ESPN. Archived from the original on March 8, 2010. Retrieved August 20, 2026.
  13. ↑ Smith, Eric (September 28, 2022). "Jamal Williams Made Undeniable Impact on Path to Chargers Hall of Fame". Chargers.com. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  14. ↑ Williamson, Bill (March 9, 2010). "Ex-Charger Jamal Williams now a Bronco". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on March 14, 2010. Retrieved August 20, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Bannan, Williams released". denverbroncos.com. Archived from the original on March 7, 2011. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
  16. ↑ Potter, Matt (January 23, 2003). "Mama Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Play Football". San Diego Reader. Archived from the original on May 6, 2003. Retrieved August 20, 2026.
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