David Ray Williams (born March 10, 1954) is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears. He also played for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and played college football at the University of Colorado.
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||
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| Born: | March 10, 1954 Minden, Louisiana, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 210 lb (95 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Homer (LA) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Colorado | ||||||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1976 / round: 7 / pick: 208 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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Early life
editWilliams attended Homer High School in Louisiana. He attended Grambling State University before accepting a scholarship from the University of Colorado, where he played quarterback for the Buffaloes, and was also a sprinter on the track team.
As a junior in 1974, he made 73 completions out of 139 attempts (52.5%) for 899 yards and 3 touchdowns, while rushing for 190 yards and 4 touchdowns. In his last year, he had 103 completions out of 172 attempts (59.9%) for 1,282 yards and 7 touchdowns, while rushing for 572 yards and 7 touchdowns. He finished his career as CU's total offense record holder with 3,576 yards.
Professional career
editDallas Cowboys
editWilliams was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round (208th overall) of the 1976 NFL draft as an athlete, with the intention of playing him at running back, but he opted not to sign with the team.
Calgary Stampeders
editOn May 19, 1976, he was signed by the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League to play quarterback.
San Francisco 49ers
editIn 1977, Williams was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as a free agent. That season, he was a backup running back (alongside O.J. Simpson), but also returned one kickoff for a touchdown. The next year, he was used mostly on special teams as a kickoff returner, then was released by new head coach Bill Walsh on August 20, 1979.
Chicago Bears
editNine days later on August 29, Williams was signed as a free agent by the Chicago Bears. He started twelve games at fullback after Roland Harper was lost for the year with a knee injury, while blocking for Walter Payton and registering 755 all-purpose yards. The next year, he returned to a backup and special teams role.
The biggest highlight of Williams' NFL career came on Thanksgiving Day in 1980 against the Detroit Lions, when he returned the opening overtime kickoff 95 yards for the game-winning touchdown, completing a comeback from a 17–3 fourth-quarter deficit. At the time, it was the shortest overtime in NFL history.[1][2][3] In November 1981, he was placed on the injured reserve list with a fractured leg.
Personal life
editHis nephews Brock Williams and John Williams also played in the National Football League.
References
edit- ^ "Bears make it a short overtime, 23-17". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). UPI. November 28, 1980. p. 5C – via Google News.
- ^ Atkins, Harry (November 28, 1980). "Williams' return stuns Lions, 23-17". Schenectady Gazette. (New York). Associated Press. p. 34.
- ^ "Bears Win With Suddenness". Retrieved February 24, 2018.