Joel Williams (linebacker)

{{Short description|American football player (born 1956)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Joel Williams

| image = JoelLesson.jpg

| caption=Williams (left) in 2016

| number = 58, 59, 54

| position = Linebacker

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|12|13}}

| birth_place = Miami, Florida, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 1

| weight_lb = 222

| high_school = North Miami

| college = Wisconsin–La Crosse

| undraftedyear = 1979

| pastteams =

• Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|1979}})*
• Atlanta Falcons (1979-{{NFL Year|1982}})
• Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|1983|1985}})
• Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|1986|1989}})

| statlabel1 = Sacks

| statvalue1 = 27.0

| statlabel2 = Fumble recoveries

| statvalue2 = 12

| statlabel3 = Interceptions

| statvalue3 = 5

| pfr = WillJo24

}}

Joel Williams (born December 13, 1956) is a former professional American football linebacker who played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) for the Atlanta Falcons and the Philadelphia Eagles from 1979 to 1989. As a Falcon in 1980, he led the National Football Conference (NFC) in quarterback sacks with 16.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2020/6/17/21292539/forgotten-falcons-joel-williams|title = Forgotten Falcons: Joel Williams|date = June 17, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://nflfootballjournal.blogspot.com/2017/01/atlanta-falcons-joel-williamss-1980.html|title = Pro Football Journal: Atlanta Falcons Joel Williams's 1980 Season|date = January 5, 2017}} In 1983, he was traded from Atlanta to Philadelphia in exchange for the Eagles' second-round pick in the 1984 NFL draft,{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1983/08/22/montgomery-out-3-6-weeks/22b44118-9829-47b7-a08d-8af58040ecf9/ |title=Montgomery Out 3-6 Weeks |date=1983-08-22 |newspaper=The Washington Post |place=Washington, D.C. |issn=0190-8286 |oclc=1330888409}} and played for the Eagles from 1984 to 1986. After a contract dispute, he was traded back to Atlanta for a fifth-round pick in the 1986 NFL draft and was reunited with Eagles' defensive coordinator Marion Campbell, who had been hired as the Falcons' head coach. Williams finished out the remainder of his career with the Falcons. He played college football at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse.