Quick Facts
Biography
Jimmy Ray Williams (born March 10, 1979) is a former American football cornerback that played in the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Vanderbilt. Williams prepped at Episcopal High School (Baton Rouge) in Baton Rouge.
Williams has also played for the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks and Houston Texans.
Vanderbilt career
Williams came to Vanderbilt as one of the highest recruited players in school history. He began his career as a running back, where he led the team in rushing yards, return yards, receptions, and touchdowns, landing him on the Freshman All-SEC team. In 1998, following encouragement from Head Coach Woody Widenhofer, switched sides of the ball to earn All-SEC honors in 1998 as a starting cornerback. During the 1999 season against Northern Illinois, Williams returned a punt for a touchdown in the game's final minutes for a 34-31 victory. He is one of only three players in Vanderbilt history to return both a punt and kickoff for a touchdown.
For his career, Williams was among the team's interception and kickoff returns for three straight years. After his senior season, Williams attended the NFL Draft combine in Indianapolis.
In 2013, Williams was selected to the Southeastern Conference Football Legends Class.
Professional career
Williams was drafted in 2001 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills with the 33rd pick of the 6th round. He signed, however, with the San Francisco 49ers, where he served as a punt returner and cornerback through the 2004 season. Since 2004, he has played for the Seattle Seahawks which included his first Super Bowl appearance in 2005 as his Seahawks lost to the Steelers. On May 19, 2008 he signed with the Houston Texans. He was not re-signed following the 2008 season and became a free agent.
NFL stats
| Year | Team | GP | COMB | TOTAL | AST | SACK | FF | FR | FR YDS | INT | IR YDS | AVG IR | LNG | TD | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | SF | 10 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | SF | 13 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | SF | 15 | 22 | 21 | 1 | 0.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| 2004 | SF | 12 | 47 | 38 | 9 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2005 | SEA | 14 | 33 | 25 | 8 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 5 |
| 2006 | SEA | 16 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Career | 80 | 134 | 110 | 24 | 1.0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 13 |
Key
- GP: games played
- COMB: combined tackles
- TOTAL: total 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
- 49ers sign defensive back Jimmy Williams
- NFL Transactions Report, December 30, 2011
- "Jimmy Williams Stats". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
Career after NFL
Williams returned to Baton Rouge to give back to his school, Episcopal High School, where he coached the middle school team until 2010. Williams has since returned to Baton Rouge and is now the assistant athletic director in addition to defensive coordinator at Episcopal High School.
