Ed Williams (linebacker)
| No. 54 | |||||
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| Position: | Linebacker | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born: | September 8, 1961 Odessa, Texas, U.S. | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | Odessa Permian | ||||
| College: | Texas | ||||
| NFL draft: | 1984 / Round: 2 / Pick: 43 | ||||
| Career history | |||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||
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| Player stats at NFL.com | |||||
Edward Eugene Williams (born September 8, 1961) is an American former professional football player who played seven seasons as a linebacker for the New England Patriots in the National Football League, including Super Bowl XX.[1] Prior to that, he played college football as a defensive end for the Texas Longhorns.
College Football[edit]
Ed Williams played college football at Texas, helping them to win Southwest Conference Championships in 1981 and 1983. In 1981, the Longhorns won the Cotton Bowl and finished ranked #2. In 1983 he had a game-ending safety against then-undefeated SMU that allowed Texas to retain its #2 ranking.[2]
Pro Football[edit]
Williams was selected in the 2nd round of the 1984 NFL draft by the New England Patriots with the 43rd pick overall.[3] He was one of 17 Longhorns taken in the draft, breaking the record for most players drafted by a single school in one draft.[4] He'd also been drafted by the San Antonio Gunslingers of the USFL, but never chose to play in that league.[5]
The Patriots moved him to right, outside linebacker and he played in most of the Patriots games, including Super Bowl XX, which the Patriots lost, through his first 3 seasons, but was not a starter until 1987. He suffered a series of small injuries to his ankle and groin during that time. 1987 was his best season, starting in 7 games and recording his only interception, which he returned for 51 yards.
He was resigned by the Patriots in 1988 and a month later suffered a serious knee injury and spent the 1988 season on the injured reserve.[6][7] He was signed to a new one-year contract before the 1989 season, but he did not play that season.[8] Before the 1990 season he was waived by the Patriots and then reclaimed the next day.[9] He played in 15 games and was the starter 3 times that season, but continued to deal with an ankle injury.
References[edit]
- ^ "The Lewiston Daily Sun – Google News Archive Search".
- ^ "SMU streak ends, but others still alive". The Baltimore Sun. October 24, 1983.
- ^ "1984 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
- ^ "Texas Football: Flashback to the Longhorns Record-Breaking 1984 Draft Class". Sports Illustrated Fan nation. April 21, 2020. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
- ^ "USFL Draft List". The Baltimore Sun. January 5, 1984.
- ^ "Transactions". The Baltimore Sun. July 23, 1988.
- ^ "Dolphins withdraw offer to Strock". The Baltimore Sun. August 9, 1988.
- ^ "Transactions". The Baltimore Sun. April 22, 1989.
- ^ "Transactions". The Baltimore Sun. September 5, 1990.