Lester Williams

{{Short description|American football player (1959–2017)}}

{{for|the blues musician|Lester Williams (musician)}}

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

{{Use American English|date=April 2024}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

|name=Lester Williams

|number=72, 96

|position=Defensive tackle
Defensive end

|birth_date={{Birth date|1959|1|19|mf=y}}

|birth_place=Miami, Florida, U.S.

|death_date={{death date and age|2017|8|16|1959|1|19}}

|death_place=Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.

|height_ft=6

|height_in=3

|weight_lb=275

|high_school=Carol City
(Miami Gardens, Florida)

|college=Miami

|draftyear=1982

|draftround=1

|draftpick=27

|pastteams=

• New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|1982|1985}})
• San Diego Chargers ({{NFL Year|1986}})
• St. Louis Cardinals (1987)*
• Seattle Seahawks ({{NFL Year|1987}})

|highlights=

• PFWA All-Rookie Team (1982)
• First-team All-American (1981)

|statlabel1=Sacks

|statvalue1=6.5

|statlabel2=Fumble recoveries

|statvalue2=2

|pfr=WillLe22

}}

Lester Williams (January 19, 1959 – August 16, 2017) was an American professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL), mainly for the New England Patriots, including the team's first Super Bowl appearance.{{cite news| title= Lester Williams, part of Pats' Super Bowl XX team, dies at 58| url= http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/20370634/former-new-england-patriots-nose-tackle-lester-williams-dies-58| publisher= ESPN| agency= Associated Press| date= August 17, 2017 | access-date= August 24, 2017}} He finished his career with the San Diego Chargers in 1986 and the Seattle Seahawks in 1987.{{cite news| url= http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/news/lester-williams-dies-patriots-1985-super-bowl-miami-hurricanes-all-american/an6ds37uvycg1qyoa9m2k01ql| work= The Sporting News| title= Lester Williams, nose tackle on Patriots' Super Bowl XX team, dies at 58| first= Marc| last= Lancaster| date= August 17, 2017| access-date= August 24, 2017| archive-date= August 18, 2017| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170818011123/http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/news/lester-williams-dies-patriots-1985-super-bowl-miami-hurricanes-all-american/an6ds37uvycg1qyoa9m2k01ql| url-status= dead}}

Williams was born in Miami, Florida. He attended Carol City High School.{{cite news| title= Lester Williams, football pioneer of the Miami Hurricanes, dies at 58| first= George| last= Richards| url= http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/college/acc/university-of-miami/article168022827.html| work= Miami Herald| date= August 18, 2017 | access-date= August 24, 2017}} He was an All-American at the University of Miami in 1981. He was selected in the first round (27th overall pick) of the 1982 NFL draft. Williams was added to the school's Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.

He died at his home in Birmingham, Alabama on August 16, 2017, at age 58.