D. J. Williams (linebacker)

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D.J. Williams
refer to caption
Williams with the Denver Broncos
No. -- Free agent
Position: Linebacker
Personal information
Date of birth: (1982-07-20) July 20, 1982 (age 42)
Place of birth: Sacramento, California
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Career information
High school: Concord (CA) De La Salle
College: Miami (FL)
NFL draft: 2004 / Round: 1 / Pick: 17
Career history
Career highlights and awards
  • USA Today High School All-American (1999)
  • 2× First-Team All-Big East (2002, 2003)
  • AFC Combined tackles leader (2007)
Career NFL statistics as of 2014
Tackles: 899
Sacks: 22.5
Interceptions: 2
Player stats at NFL.com

Genos Derwin “D. J.” Williams, Jr. (born July 20, 1982), more commonly known as D.J. Williams,[1] is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent in the National Football League. He played college football at the University of Miami. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Chicago Bears.

High school career

Williams, born and raised in Sacramento, California, lived with family in the Bay Area during high school. Williams did this in order to play high school football at Concord, California's De La Salle High School. He earned USA Today Defensive Player of the Year honors as a senior and was regarded as the top defensive player nationally. He compiled 130 tackles (87 solo) and rushed for 1,974 yards, six sacks, five forced fumbles, three fumbles recoveries. On offense, he broke the school record for touchdowns in a season with 42 (33 rushing, five receiving, three punt return and one kickoff return).[2]

College career

2000–2001

Williams started his collegiate career at the University of Miami at fullback due to a logjam at the linebacker position. Although he was used sparingly in his freshman year, he recorded 18 career rushes for 142 yards (7.9 avg.) with two touchdowns while catching 12 passes for 153 yards (11.9 avg.) over his career.[2]

2001–2002

Williams switched back to his favored linebacker position in 2001 and was quiet but productive member of the National Championship team. He compiled 51 tackles (25 solo), and one crucial forced fumble in the Rose Bowl against Nebraska.[2]

2002–2003

In 2002, he was one of 11 semi-finalists for the Butkus Award along with teammate Jonathan Vilma, who was also a second-team All-BIG EAST selection. He registered 108 tackles (55 solos) to rank second on the team, notched four sacks, forced two fumbles, and broke up eight passes.[2]

2003–2004

In his final year at Miami he blossomed into one of the best players in the country, finishing his senior year in 2003 as a semifinalist for the Butkus Award He also a named third-team All-American by the Associated Press and a first-team All-Big East Conference choice. Williams finished second on the team with 82 tackles (44 solo) and tie for the team-lead with six sacks, forced a fumble and recovered another. His highlight of the season was a 61-yard run for a touchdown off a fake punt.

Professional career

NFL Draft

Williams was selected by the Denver Broncos in the first round (17th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft. Williams emerged as one of the league's top linebackers.[1]

Denver Broncos

2004–2005

In his rookie year, he started 14 of 16 games and led the Broncos with 114 tackles (82 solo). He also recorded two sacks, one interception and one forced fumble.[3] Although an early candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year,[4] the award went to then-New York Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma.

2005–2006

Williams was moved from his weak-side linebacker position to strong-side linebacker following the Broncos signing of Ian Gold.[5] He finished with 55 tackles (39 solo) while adding three pass deflections and one forced fumble.. Williams also contributed two tackles and a forced fumble on special teams.[3] He pleaded guilty in September 2005 to driving drunk and was ordered to perform 24 hours of community service.[6]

2006–2007

In the 2006 season, he amassed 76 tackles (59 solo), a sack, one forced fumble, two pass deflections.[3]

2007–2008

Following the injury-related release of Al Wilson, Williams was moved to his third position, middle linebacker.[5] He finished the 2007 season 2nd in the NFL[7] with 141 tackles (106 solo) along with one sack and one interception.[3]

2009–2010

2009 brought change to the Broncos defense when former Patriots offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels was hired as head coach. McDaniels hired former 49ers head coach and defensive guru Mike Nolan as defensive coordinator. Nolan installed the 3-4 defense, in which he moved D.J. Williams to inside linebacker (ILB). Playing the "Jack" ILB position (same as Patrick Willis - 49ers), Williams finished the season with 122 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles.[3]

On November 12, 2010, Williams was pulled over by a Police officer for driving without headlights on. He was cited for DUI, a misdemeanor and driving without headlights. As this was his second DUI charge, Williams faces a mandatory 10-day jail sentence and a minimum of two years probation if he is convicted - he was ordered to appear in court on December 13.[6]

As a result of the arrest, the Denver Broncos fined Williams and demoted him from Defensive Co-Captain. It was also announced that he would not start the Week 10 match-up against AFC West rivals the Kansas City Chiefs.[6]

By the end of the season, Williams finished with 119 tackles (94 solo), 5.5 sacks, 9 pass deflection and 1 forced fumble.

2012

In March 2012, Williams was suspended for six games after failing a mandatory league drug test.[8] Wesley Woodyard replaced Williams at linebacker. Williams' suspension was extended by three games by the NFL.[9]

Williams was released by the Broncos on March 11, 2013.[10]

Chicago Bears

2013

On March 22, 2013 the Chicago Bears signed Williams to a one-year contract.[11] In week six against the New York Giants, Williams ruptured his pectoral tendon.[12] He was placed on injured reserve on October 18.[13] Williams was a free agent after 2013, but resigned with the Bears to a one-year deal on March 11, 2014.[14]

NFL stats

Years Team GP COMB TOTAL AST SACK FF FR FR YDS INT IR YDS AVG IR LNG IR TD PD
2004 DEN 16 114 81 33 2.0 1 0 0 1 10 10 10 0 7
2005 DEN 16 55 39 16 0.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
2006 DEN 16 76 59 17 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
2007 DEN 16 141 106 35 1.0 2 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 5
2008 DEN 11 93 68 25 2.5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
2009 DEN 16 122 100 22 3.5 3 2 8 0 0 0 0 0 7
2010 DEN 16 119 94 25 5.5 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 9
2011 DEN 13 90 70 20 5.0 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
2012 DEN 7 14 10 4 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
2013 CHI 6 27 19 8 2.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2014 CHI 12 46 30 16 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career 145 897 676 221 22.5 14 7 0 2 10 5 10 0 38

[15]

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

References

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  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.polluters rehash
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ "ChicagoTribune.com", "Bears find a replacement for Urlacher", "March 22, 2013".
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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