Joshua Williams (cornerback)

This article is about the NFL cornerback. For the NFL defensive tackle, see Josh Williams (American football). For other persons with similar names, see Josh Williams (disambiguation).

Joshua Williams
refer to caption
Williams with the Chiefs
No. 2 – Kansas City Chiefs
Position:Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (1999-10-17) October 17, 1999 (age 25)
Fayetteville, North Carolina, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:193 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:Jack Britt
(Fayetteville, North Carolina)
College:Fayetteville State (2018–2021)
NFL draft:2022 / round: 4 / pick: 135
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Total tackles:59
Pass deflections:12
Interceptions:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Joshua Williams (born October 17, 1999) is an American professional football cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Fayetteville State.

Early life

Williams grew up in Fayetteville, North Carolina and attended Jack Britt High School, where he played football and ran track. After graduating from Jack Britt, he completed a postgraduate year at Palmetto Prep in Columbia, South Carolina.[1]

College career

Williams primarily played the nickel cornerback position as a freshman at Fayetteville State University.[2] He moved to outside corner before his sophomore year and finished the season with 32 tackles, one tackle for loss, 11 passes defended, and two interceptions.[3] Williams' junior season in 2020 was canceled due to COVID-19.[4] As a senior, he had 31 tackles with nine passes defended and three interceptions, one of which he returned 32 yards for a touchdown, and was named first-team All-Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association.[1] After the conclusion of his college career, Williams played in the 2022 Senior Bowl.[5][6] Williams participated in the 2022 NFL Combine.[7]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 2+7⁄8 in
(1.90 m) 		195 lb
(88 kg) 		32+7⁄8 in
(0.84 m) 		9+1⁄2 in
(0.24 m)		 4.53 s 1.54 s 2.60 s 4.47 s 6.95 s 37.0 in
(0.94 m)		 10 ft 4 in
(3.15 m)		 11 reps
Sources:[8][9]

Williams was selected in the fourth round, 135th overall, of the 2022 NFL draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.[10] He was the first player drafted out of Fayetteville State in the regular portion of the NFL Draft. He was first to be selected in any part of the NFL Draft since Blenda Gay went in the 1973 Supplemental Draft.[11]

Williams caught his first career NFL interception in the Week 7 44–23 win over the San Francisco 49ers.[12] In the AFC Championship against the Cincinnati Bengals, Williams had an interception on Joe Burrow which helped the Chiefs preserve the lead and win 23–20 when the game was tied at 20.[13] The Chiefs reached Super Bowl LVII and defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38–35. In the Super Bowl, Williams recorded four tackles.[14]

In 2023, Williams won his second straight Super Bowl when the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25–22 in Super Bowl LVIII.[15] Williams recorded two tackles in the game.[16]

References

  1. ^ a b Holland, Monica (March 11, 2022). "Jack Britt alum Joshua Williams aims to be first Fayetteville State NFL Draftee since 1976". The Fayetteville Observer. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  2. ^ Fragoza, James (March 2, 2022). "Joshua Williams, Fayetteville State CB". ProFootballNetwork.com. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  3. ^ Baxley, Rodd (September 7, 2021). "Fayetteville State football's Joshua Williams, Jordan Ferguson, Jerome Bentley see NFL scouts at practices". The Fayetteville Observer. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  4. ^ Holland, Monica (September 1, 2021). "Fayetteville State football: Things to know heading into the season". The Fayetteville Observer. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  5. ^ Friedlander, Brett (February 2, 2022). "Fayetteville State corner eyes NFL at Senior Bowl". North State Journal. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  6. ^ Rogers, Justin (February 2, 2022). "Small school corner Joshua Williams shows toughness, speed at Senior Bowl". The Detroit News. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  7. ^ Portnoy, Ben (March 7, 2022). "NFL Combine gives SC State's Durant, other HBCU prospects national spotlight". The State. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  8. ^ Zierlein, Lance. "Joshua Williams Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  9. ^ "2022 Draft Scout Joshua Williams, Fayetteville State NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  10. ^ Teope, Herbie (April 30, 2022). "Kansas City Chiefs pick standout HBCU cornerback Joshua Williams in NFL Draft's Round 4". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  11. ^ "Fayetteville St. Players/Alumni". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  12. ^ Holland, Monica (October 23, 2022). "Fayetteville State football alum Joshua Williams' 1st NFL interception huge for Chiefs". The Fayetteville Observer. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  13. ^ "AFC Championship – Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs – January 29th, 2023". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  14. ^ "Super Bowl LVII – Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs – February 12th, 2023". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  15. ^ Maaddi, Rob (February 12, 2024). "Patrick Mahomes rallies the Chiefs to second straight Super Bowl title, 25–22 over 49ers in overtime". AP News. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  16. ^ "Super Bowl LVIII - San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs - February 11th, 2024". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved February 14, 2024.