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PRO: Few players have come to the Dallas Cowboys with a higher level of hype and expectation than safety Roy Williams. Even fewer of those heralded newcomers have been able to exceed the advanced billing in the fashion that Williams has been able to do in his first four years in the league. The eighth overall selection in the 2002 NFL Draft, and a Dallas starter (64 straight regular season games) from his first day of training camp, Williams's string of 65 straight starts (including playoffs) is the longest active streak on the team. He earned All-Rookie recognition in 2002 while tying for the NFL interception lead among rookies with five and then followed that performance with All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors following his second campaign. Following the 2004 and 2005 seasons, he earned his second and third trips to Hawaii as a member of the NFC Pro Bowl squad. It is rare for such a young player to create the type of impact that Williams has had on the Dallas defense - both as a ferocious run stopper and as a big playmaker in pass defense. Capable of making plays dropping back into coverage or rushing the passer, Williams is one of just four defensive backs (Ronde Barber, Brian Dawkins and Rodney Harrison) to have posted at least two sacks and two-or-more interceptions in the same season in three of the last four years. He has returned three of his 12 career interceptions for touchdowns leaving him one touchdown shy of the club record of four that is held by Dennis Thurman and Dexter Coakley. He is also ninth in the NFL in sacks by a defensive back since entering the league in 2002 with 6.5. As one of the bigger safeties in the league - and a very sure tackler - Williams also has a knack for being able to get all of his body mass into his tackles. Williams has a unique flair for making the big hit that stops opposing runners immediately - without yielding any additional ground. Williams aptly fits the prototypical description of the guy who is always around the ball. He is above the standard in size, speed, attitude and instinct, but his greatest asset may be his burning competitive nature. He also has natural leadership ability that has already been positively received in the early stages of an NFL career that is off to a blazing start.
2005: In being named to his third consecutive NFC Pro Bowl squad, Roy Williams finished the season second on the Cowboys defense in tackles with 82. He tied for the team lead in forced fumbles, while also tying for third on the club in interceptions (three) and passes defensed (eight). Williams was one of just three defensive backs (Brian Dawkins and Al Harris) in the NFL to record more than two sacks and two interceptions. He was seventh in the NFC, 12th in the NFL, among defensive backs with 2.5 sacks - a total that tied him for fourth on the team. In the season opening win at San Diego (9/11), Williams registered five tackles and half a sack, marking his first sack since 2003. His effort helped limit LaDainian Tomlinson to 72 rushing yards. In the Monday night loss to Washington (9/19), he recorded another sack to go along with two tackles and a pass defensed. He also forced a Ladell Betts fumble just before halftime that Keith Davis recovered. In the key divisional win over Philadelphia (10/9), Williams had two tackles, a tackle for a loss and a sack as the Dallas defense limited the Eagles top ranked offense to 129 total yards, including just 110 through the air. Williams had a dominating day in the overtime victory over the N.Y. Giants (10/16) with five tackles, a pass defensed and a special teams stop. He made his biggest play of the game with 1:26 remaining in regulation when he tackled Brandon Jacobs at the goal line and forced a fumble that he then recovered to end a Giants scoring drive. In the last-minute loss at Seattle (10/23), Williams recorded his 10th career interception - his first of the season - and added five tackles as the NFL's top ranked offense entering the game was limited to 289 total yards, 118 below their season average, and one touchdown. Shaun Alexander, the NFL leading rusher at 119 yards-per-game (5.5 avg.), was limited to 61 yards on 21 carries (2.9 avg.). Williams's fourth quarter interception of Matt Hasselbeck was at the Seattle 24-yard line, setting up a Dallas field goal. In the win over Arizona (10/30), he led the team with a season-high nine tackles, as the Cardinals were limited to 213 total yards, including just 142 net passing yards, second fewest allowed by Dallas for the year. In the Monday night win at Philadelphia (11/14), Williams provided the Cowboys defensive play of the year by scoring the game-winning touchdown on a 46-yard interception return that put the Cowboys up by a 21-20 margin with 2:43 remaining in the fourth quarter. It was his second interception of the season and his third career interception return for a touchdown. He also added six tackles on the night against the Eagles. In the win over Detroit (11/20), he was third on the team with six tackles as he helped hold the Lions to 226 total yards, including just 57 on the ground, the second fewest of the year allowed by Dallas. In the overtime loss to Denver (11/24) on Thanksgiving Day, Williams led the Cowboys with eight tackles and forced a fumble at the Broncos 10-yard line that Terence Newman recovered. The fumble set up Dallas's game-tying fourth quarter touchdown. The Broncos were limited to 149 passing yards and their wide receivers had just six catches for 64 yards - with just one catch, a 20-yarder, over 13 yards. In the following week's loss at the N.Y. Giants (12/4), he tied for second on the team with seven tackles while helping limit New York tight end Jeremy Shockey to just two receptions for 20 yards. The Giants were held to just 150 net passing yards on the day along with one offensive touchdown. In the thrilling come-from-behind win over Kansas City (12/11), Williams was third on the team with six tackles and added his only quarterback pressure of the season. He was second on the team in tackles at Washington (12/18) with seven stops. In the following week's win at Carolina (12/24), he recorded just one tackle but broke up two passes, including a fourth-quarter interception of Jake Delhomme at the Dallas eight-yard line. He returned the interception six yards before being tackled. On the tackle, he suffered a sprained ankle and saw limited action the rest of the game. He was limited by the ankle injury in the season ending loss to St. Louis (1/1/06) and recorded just one tackle and a special teams stop.
2004: In earning his second straight Pro Bowl selection, Williams closed the year second on the team in tackles with 106 - marking his second 100-plus tackle season in his three years in the NFL. He had two interceptions and led the team in tackles for lost yardage with five. He was also third on the team in passes defensed with nine. In the season opening loss at Minnesota (9/12), Williams led all Dallas defensive backs with seven tackles. In the home opening win over Cleveland (9/19), Williams tied for the team lead with six tackles. His effort helped shut down the Browns passing game, as Jeff Garcia was eight-of-28 for 66 net yards. In the Monday night win at Washington (9/27), Williams had a career-high 14 tackles to go along with two pass deflections. His last tackle of the night kept Redskins receiver Rod Gardner in bounds - and unable to stop the clock - after a Washington completion to the Dallas 21-yard line. He added seven tackles in the loss to the Steelers (10/17). Williams led all defensive backs in tackles at Green Bay (10/24) with eight. In the win over Detroit (10/31), Williams led all Dallas defenders in tackles with 10 while also knocking down a pass. He had a number of punishing tackles against the Lions and set the tone early in the game with a big hit on Tai Streets. His eight tackles at Cincinnati (11/7) were the most by a Dallas defensive back. He registered four stops and a pressure in the Thanksgiving Day victory over Chicago (11/25) as the Bears were limited to 49 rushing yards on 20 carries (2.5 avg.) and 140 total yards for the game - the lowest total allowed by Dallas since Sept. 8, 1996. In the Cowboys come-from-behind Monday night victory at Seattle (12/6), Williams tallied seven tackles and forced his first fumble of the season. The fumble occurred on Williams's biggest hit of the night when he tackled Shaun Alexander in the third quarter for no gain and jarred the ball loose. Dat Nguyen recovered it and ran nine yards to the Seattle 21-yard line. Two plays later, Julius Jones ran 10 yards up the middle for a touchdown and a 26-14 Dallas lead. In the loss to New Orleans (12/12), Williams recorded his first interception of the season when he picked off Aaron Brooks on the opening drive of the second half. His 20-yard return to the Saints 42-yard line set up a Dallas field goal. He also had five tackles and two tackles for losses as the Dallas defense limited Deuce McAllister to 83 yards on 30 carries (2.8 avg.). At Philadelphia (12/19), he was third on the team with seven tackles, tied his career-high by breaking up three passes and added his second interception in as many weeks, returning the theft 33 yards. Williams helped limit Donovan McNabb and the eventual NFC Champions to 208 net passing yards. McNabb, the NFL's third ranked passer (107.2 rating) entering the day, was limited to a 62.0 rating with two interceptions. In the win over Washington (12/26), he tied for second on the team with seven tackles as the Redskins were held to 233 total yards. He also tackled Laveranues Coles for a six-yard loss on a screen pass. In the season ending loss at the N.Y. Giants (1/2/05), Williams was second on the team in tackles (eight). His effort helped limit the Giants to 235 total yards for the night.
2003: Williams built on his outstanding rookie season with an even better sophomore campaign. He was a major force on the NFL's top ranked defense, earning All-Pro honors from the Associated Press and The Sporting News. The starting free safety for the NFC squad in the Pro Bowl, Williams finished the year fourth on the team with 86 tackles and was second on the team with six tackles for losses. He was one of just 10 defensive backs in the NFL with two-or-more sacks (2.0) and interceptions (two). A true competitor and unselfish team-player, Williams's nine special teams tackles were the most by a Dallas starter. In the season opener against Atlanta (9/7), he recorded five tackles, forced a fumble that led to a sack and added a quarterback pressure. In pass coverage, he helped limit the Falcons wide receivers to six catches for 89 yards, including just two catches for 30 yards by Peerless Price. Williams led the team with six tackles in the overtime win at the N.Y. Giants (9/15). He recorded his biggest play of the day at the N.Y. Jets (9/28) when he forced a Curtis Martin fumble at the Cowboys 11-yard line in the second quarter. The ball rolled into the end zone where it was recovered by Darren Woodson to end a potential Jets scoring drive. On the ensuing possession, Dallas took the ball and drove 80 yards in the final 1:42 of the half to take a 14-3 lead. Against Arizona (10/5) Williams recorded his first interception of the season with a fourth quarter pick to end the Cardinals final drive of the game. His biggest hit of the day came in the second quarter when he tackled Emmitt Smith for no gain on a second quarter run, ending Smith's day with a fractured left shoulder blade on the play. His play helped limit the Cardinals to 151 total yards, including just 32 rushing on 18 carries (1.8 avg.). In the Cowboys 23-21 win over Philadelphia (10/12), he recorded his first sack of the season with a takedown of McNabb. He broke up a pass to Todd Pinkston at the goal line to prevent a touchdown later in the game and also had a tackle for a loss on the Eagles final drive when he and Dexter Coakley wrapped up McNabb. Coakley forced a fumble on the play to preserve the Cowboys 23-21 win. Williams recorded five tackles at Tampa Bay (10/26) and helped limit the Bucs to 133 net yards passing. Against Washington (11/2) he had five tackles and also recorded his second sack of the season along with two quarterback pressures. However, his biggest contribution on the day may have been the tone setting hit he made on the kickoff coverage unit in the second quarter after Dallas had taken a 7-6 lead. The Dallas defense limited Buffalo (11/9) to 185 total yards, including just 58 on seven second half possessions as Williams contributed seven tackles. His five tackles at New England (11/16) were part of the reason the Patriots were only able to rush for 65 yards on 25 carries (2.6 avg.). In the Cowboys 24-20 win over NFC Champion Carolina (11/23), he picked off his second pass of the season, returning the Jake Delhomme miscue 30 yards to the Panthers 11-yard line to set up a Dallas touchdown. He also recovered a fumble on the game's opening kickoff to set Dallas up for its first points of the game. His play and that of the rest of the Dallas defense helped limit Stephen Davis, the NFL's third leading rusher entering the day at 108.4 yards-per-game, to 59 yards on 26 carries (2.3 avg.) and helped force Delhomme into a nine-of-24 passing day (37.5%). He was second on the team with a season-high 12 tackles against Miami (11/27). Williams tied for second on the team with seven tackles at Washington (12/14) as the Redskins were limited to 161 total yards, including just 55 in the air. The Washington wide receivers were held to four catches for 29 yards, including none by Laveranues Coles. The following week, the N.Y. Giants (12/21) were limited to 213 total yards, including just 159 through the air as Williams recorded six tackles and led the team with two tackles for losses - one of which came on fourth down to end a Giants drive. Williams made his postseason debut at Carolina (1/3/04) and finished third on the team with eight tackles while also forcing a fumble.
2002: As a starter from day one, Williams not only provided a spark to the Dallas defense, but by mid-season, he became a force that was earning league-wide recognition and respect. An All-Rookie selection, Williams tied with teammate Derek Ross (and Baltimore safety Ed Reed) to lead all NFL rookies in interceptions with a team-high five. Those five thefts were the most by a Dallas safety since Darren Woodson had five in 1996. Williams was also the leading scorer on defense - returning two of his interceptions for touchdowns. He closed the year second on the team with 127 tackles, a figure that was tops in the NFL among rookie defenders and the second most ever by a Dallas rookie (Coakley, 136 in 1997). He also tied for second on the team in tackles for lost yardage (seven) and tied for the team lead on defense in forced fumbles (three - ninth in the NFL) and fumble recoveries (two - fourth in the NFL) - he also added a forced fumble and fumble recovery on special teams - while finishing third on the squad in passes broken up with nine. Williams became the first Cowboys rookie to start the season at safety since Ron Francis in 1987. In his first career start at Houston (9/8), Williams responded with four tackles and a quarterback pressure. At Philadelphia (9/22) Williams had his first career double-figure tackle game with 11 stops while adding two tackles for lost yardage and a fumble recovery. He first displayed the kind of big impact that he could have on a game in the 13-10 win at St. Louis (9/29). Williams led Dallas in tackles with a season-high 13 stops against the Rams while also forcing a Marshall Faulk fumble and breaking up a Jamie Martin pass. His pressure of Kurt Warner resulted in a first quarter interception by Greg Ellis and knocked Warner from the game. In the loss to the N.Y. Giants (10/6), Williams registered five tackles and his first career sack - a five-yard takedown of Kerry Collins. In the following week's victory over Carolina (10/13), he recorded six tackles before leaving in the third quarter with a left heel bruise. Still hobbled with the heel injury, he returned to action at Arizona (10/20) and finished fourth on the team with seven tackles while adding his second sack of the season and a season-high two passes defensed. In the loss to Seattle (10/27), Williams was third on the team with nine tackles while helping limit Shaun Alexander to 2.5 yards-per-carry on 23 carries (58 yards). At Indianapolis (11/17) he collected 10 tackles while grabbing his first career interception when he picked off a Peyton Manning pass at the Cowboys 10-yard line to stop a potential scoring drive. In the win over Jacksonville (11/24), Williams enjoyed one of his finest days as a professional, recording eight tackles, two pass deflections, a forced fumble at the goal line that prevented a touchdown and a diving interception on the sideline that thwarted a bomb to Jimmy Smith, who he had covered step-for-step. In the Thanksgiving Day win over Washington (11/28), Williams turned in the key play of the game with an interception return of five yards for a touchdown that cut the Dallas deficit to 20-17. The third quarter touchdown turned the game's momentum and sparked Dallas's fourth quarter rally. It was his third straight game with a pick, becoming the first Dallas player to accomplish that feat since James Washington in Weeks 4-6 of the 1994 season. Michael Downs in 1981 was the last rookie to accomplish the feat. In the loss to San Francisco (12/8), Williams led the team with a season-high tying 13 tackles. He also tied for the team lead with three special teams tackles, including a hit on Jimmy Williams on a kickoff return that forced a fumble that he recovered to set up a Dallas field goal. He wrapped up his outstanding rookie season with a dominating performance at Washington (12/29). He logged seven tackles and was in on two Redskins turnovers. With 0:56 remaining in the first half and the Redskins driving, he picked off his fifth pass of the season, returning the Patrick Ramsey pass 85-yards for a touchdown to tie the score at 7-7. It was the eighth longest interception return in club history and the second best by a rookie. With the Redskins driving again in the third quarter, Tony Dixon forced Derrius Thompson to fumble at the Cowboys 11-yard line and Williams fell on the loose ball. At the season's end, Williams was one of just 10 defensive backs in the NFL to record multiple sacks (2.0) and interceptions (five) in 2002.
COLLEGE: Considered by many to be the nation's top collegiate football player in 2001, Williams ended a brilliant college career with one year of eligibility remaining. Williams was a unanimous All-America and All-Big 12 selection at strong safety, while also claiming the 2001 Jim Thorpe Award that annually recognizes the nation's top defensive back. Williams was also named the Bronko Nagurski Award winner as the nation's top defender and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. In leading the Sooners to a 10-2 record and a victory in the Cotton Bowl, Williams set a school record with 27 pass deflections. He recorded a career-high 101 tackles with two sacks and 11 stops for losses. His 11 stops behind the line of scrimmage were one shy of his own school record for defensive backs (12 in 2000). He also intercepted five passes and recovered three fumbles. As a sophomore, Williams played a very visible role in the Sooners perfect 12-0 season and march to the national championship. The title marked the first for Oklahoma since 1985, and the championship season was capped with a victory over Florida State in the Orange Bowl. Williams was named All-America and was an All-Big 12 pick. Williams finished the year third on the team with 93 tackles. His 12 stops for losses set a school record for defensive backs, and he had four sacks, two interceptions and nine deflected passes while recovering one fumble. In 1999, Williams recorded 75 tackles and six stops for losses of 21 yards. He also intercepted two passes and deflected 11 others to earn Sporting News Freshman All-America honors. As a true freshman in 1998, he played in the first three games of the season before suffering a back injury that forced him out of action the remainder of the year. He received a medical hardship to regain a year of eligibility.
PERSONAL: Williams played quarterback, wide receiver and defensive back during his prep career at James Logan High School in Union City, Calif. He was the top-rated defensive back prospect in the western region by PrepStar after recording five interceptions and 56 tackles as a senior. He caught 13 passes for 301 yards and five touchdowns as a wide receiver while running for 162 yards and a touchdown on 38 carries. Williams was one of the main reasons that Logan had a four-year record of 38-10, two North Coast Section Class 4A championship appearances (1994 and 1997) and two semifinal appearances (1995 and 1996). He also lettered in track. After signing his first pro contract, Williams made a $100,000 contribution towards a new strength training facility at the University of Oklahoma, as a part of the school's new indoor workout complex. The new area, which carries Williams's name, complements the main Robin Siegfried Complex at the Switzer Center. Williams majored in sociology at Oklahoma. Since becoming a Dallas Cowboy, Williams has been very involved in the Dallas-Fort Worth community and was selected by a local panel as the team's 2004 candidate for the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. As a member of the Cowboys 2002 Rookie Club - a program designed to introduce rookie team members to community service in the Dallas area - Williams participated in monthly charity visits to non-profit organizations serving children. He also participated as a guest speaker at the club's annual United Way Hometown Huddle event for 100 children involved with The Salvation Army. Each year, Williams serves as a celebrity escort at the annual Children's Cancer Fund Fashion Show and Luncheon co-chaired by Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach that helps raise $500,000. During the 2003 offseason, he presented the Cowboys High School Coach of the Year Award to the Texas 5A State Champions Head Coach, Todd Dodge of Southlake Carroll High School. He also attended the JCPenney Afterschool Fund Gala benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs, 4-H and Junior Achievement. Once the 2003 season rolled around, Williams stayed equally busy in the community by serving as the Cowboys NFL United Way spokesperson on a national PSA campaign, supporting the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and becoming a member of the United Way African American Leadership Society. In between weekly game preparation, he volunteered to play Bingo with several teammates and 100 senior citizens at The Brady Center as part of the Cowboys annual United Way Hometown Huddle event. He also annually leads the volunteer effort as the team serves an early Thanksgiving Day meal to 300 men, women and children receiving assistance at The Salvation Army. Every Christmas, he enjoys adopting several - 50 in 2005 - Salvation Army ?Angels' from their Angel Tree program and providing Christmas gifts to area children in need. In 2004, the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas honored Williams with the Special Recognition Award for his commitment and leadership in the Dallas community. In July 2004, he launched The Roy Williams Safety Net Foundation to enhance the quality of life for low-income single mothers. Inspired by his sister, the foundation was set-up to identify and to provide the necessary assistance, resources and support to low-income single mothers who are raising children in the Dallas community. During the 2004 season and into the 2005 offseason, Williams remained busy in the community. He participated in a Rookie Club Alumni visit at the ChildCareGroup to carve Halloween pumpkins with 140 pre-school children from low-income families. Because of his endless hours of volunteerism, Williams was a NFL spokesperson for the league's ?Join The Team PSA campaign to promote volunteerism. He hit the ground running in the community during the 2005 offseason including volunteering for several community outreach efforts while at Pro Bowl in Honolulu. Upon his return to Dallas, Williams attended the team's annual NFL Draft Day Party hosted in appreciation for the club's loyal fans, served as honorary ?Prince Charming for the Fairy Tale Ball for the Classics in support of the arts for low-income children and attended the final practice of the Cowboys Jr. Player Development Football Clinic at Texas Stadium hosted for low-income youth from The Salvation Army Pleasant Grove Center. During the 2005 season and into the 2006 off season, he continued his ongoing commitment to the community as he once again headed up the player volunteers at the team's annual early Thanksgiving Day meal served to over 300 deserving men and women being assisted by The Salvation Army and also participated in the team's United Way Hometown Huddle event preparing and delivering meals to elderly clients though Meals on Wheels. Williams had a busy Spring of '06 and once again served as a celebrity escort at the Children's Cancer Fund Fashion Show. He also joined teammates DeMarcus Ware and Marcus Spears and a dozen other players in support of the Second Annual Taste of the NFL: The Ultimate Dallas Cowboys Tailgate Party that benefited the North Texas Food Bank which raised money to provide over 330,000 meals to North Texans in need. Williams was one of four NFL Players selected to represent the NFL and United Way of America in a new series of public service announcements for the 2006 football season, he was selected as one of The Sporting News ?Good Guys in a special section recognizing professional athletes who devise unique programs to help the community, he hosted a fundraising golf tournament for his foundation and ChildCare Group, and he served as a ?celebrity coach at the Dallas Cowboys/NFL Jr. Player Development Football Camp hosted by The Salvation Army. His aunt, Vecepia Towery, was the winner of the popular CBS television series Survivor: Marquesas in the Spring of 2002. |
