Pat Williams

Here’s a profile of Pat Williams (born October 24, 1972), American athlete (American football):

Early Life & Background

• Pat Williams was born in Monroe, Louisiana on October 24, 1972.

• He attended Wossman High School in Monroe.

• After high school, he played at Navarro College (a junior college) and then at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, before transferring to Texas A&M University.

College & Entry into the NFL

• At Texas A&M, Williams faced academic challenges (he failed the junior-college exit exam at one point), which delayed his progress.

• Despite difficulties, he played for Texas A&M and had enough visibility to enter the professional level.

• He went undrafted in the 1997 NFL Draft, but was signed afterward as a free agent by the Buffalo Bills.

Professional Career

Buffalo Bills (1997–2004)

• Williams’ rookie year in 1997 saw limited action—he played in just one game.

• Over the next several seasons, he established himself as a reliable interior defensive lineman.

• In 2003, his teammates awarded him the Ed Block Courage Award.

• In 2004, he recorded an interception and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins.

Minnesota Vikings (2005–2010)

• Before the 2005 season, Williams joined the Minnesota Vikings.

• He formed a dominant interior defensive pairing with fellow defensive tackle Kevin Williams; together they were known as the “Williams Wall.”

• During his time with the Vikings, they had one of the strongest run defenses in the league for several years.

• Williams was selected to the Pro Bowl three times (2006, 2007, 2008) and was a Second-team All-Pro selection in 2007.

Statistics & Legacy

• Over his NFL career, he played in 200 games with 157 starts.

• He amassed approximately 466 tackles, 20.5 sacks, 8 forced fumbles, and 9 fumble recoveries.

• In his final season (2010), at age 38, he was the oldest defensive player in the NFL.

• After retiring, Williams signed a one-day contract with the Vikings in 2013 so that he could officially retire as a Viking.

Style & Strengths

• Williams was known not for flashy stats but for run-stopping, leverage, physicality, and durability.

• He was effective at anchoring against double teams, clogging gaps, and maintaining strength in the interior.

• His leadership and consistency gave defenses stability from the inside.