Xavier Williams
{{Short description|American football player (born 1992)}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Xavier Williams
| image = Xavier Williams.JPG
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Williams with the Arizona Cardinals in 2017
| number = 94, 98, 71, 69
| position = Nose tackle
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|1|18}}
| birth_place = Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lbs = 309
| high_school = Grandview {{avoid wrap|(Grandview, Missouri)}}
| college = Northern Iowa
| undraftedyear = 2015
| pastteams =
- Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2015}}–{{NFL Year|2017}})
- Kansas City Chiefs ({{NFL Year|2018}}–{{NFL Year|2019}})
- New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|2020}})
- Cincinnati Bengals ({{NFL Year|2020}})
- Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2021}})*
- Houston Texans ({{NFL Year|2021}})
| highlights =
- Super Bowl champion (LIV)
- 2× All-Missouri Valley Conference (2013, 2014)
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 107
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 4.0
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 = 3
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 = 1
| pfr = WillXa00
}}
Xavier Williams (born January 18, 1992) is an American former professional football player who was a nose tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Northern Iowa Panthers. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Arizona Cardinals.
Early life
Williams attended Grandview High School, where he was named a first-team all conference selection. He was named to the Suburban Mid-Six team in 2009 and earned first-team all metro honors. Aside from football, Williams was a three-year starter and two-time qualifier in wrestling.{{cite web |url=http://www.azcardinals.com/team/roster/Xavier-Williams/9c8d9f35-082c-4b7b-a691-eb4db8152cb2 |title=Xavier Williams Biography |publisher=Arizona Cardinals |website=azcardinals.com |access-date=December 14, 2015}}
College career
Williams attended the University of Northern Iowa between 2010 and 2014. He was earned All-Missouri Valley Football Conference First-team Honors in both 2013 and 2014. Williams had the opportunity to play in the East-West Shrine Game following his senior season, where he performed well at the defensive tackle position{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2015/insider/story/_/id/12178746/xavier-williams-east-west-shrine-game-standouts-2015-nfl-draft |title=Xavier Williams among East-West Shrine Game standouts |last=Muench |first=Steve |publisher=ESPN |website=ESPN |date=January 16, 2015 |access-date=December 15, 2015}}
Professional career
=Arizona Cardinals (first stint)=
On May 5, 2015, Williams signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent.{{cite web |url=http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/college/northern-iowa/2015/05/05/xavier-williams-northern-iowa-arizona-cardinals-david-johnson-nfl-draft/26938535/ |title=UNI's Xavier Williams joins NFL's Cardinals |last=Logue |first=Andrew |publisher=The Des Moines Register |date=May 5, 2015 |website=demoinesregister.com |access-date=December 14, 2015}} In his rookie year in 2015, he played 4 games making 2 tackles.
On March 13, 2018, the Cardinals placed an original round restricted free agent tender on Williams, which allows a player to negotiate a contract with another team, but their original team can match the offer, if they refuse, they receive a draft pick from the round the player was selected in. For undrafted players, like Williams, the team receives no compensation.{{cite web|title=Cardinals tender restricted free agent Xavier Williams|url=http://arizonasports.com/story/1461113/nfl-free-agency-cardinals-tender-restricted-xavier-williams/|website=ArizonaSports.com|date=March 13, 2018}}
=Kansas City Chiefs=
On March 20, 2018, Williams received a contract offer from the Kansas City Chiefs giving the Cardinals a chance to match. The Cardinals declined to match the Chiefs offer, so he signed his offer sheet with the Chiefs.{{cite web|title=Chiefs sign restricted free agent nose tackle Xavier Williams|url=http://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article206067104.html|author=Paylor, Terez A.|website=Kansas City.com|date=March 20, 2018}}
On October 9, 2019, Williams was placed on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain.{{cite web|title=Chiefs place DT Xavier Williams on IR; Officially announce new signings|url=https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/2019/10/09/kansas-city-chiefs-place-dt-xavier-williams-on-ir-officially-announce-new-signings/|work=Chiefs Wire|publisher=USA Today|date=October 9, 2019}} He was designated for return from injured reserve on December 4, 2019, and began practicing with the team again.{{cite news |author=Williams, Charean |title=Chiefs designate Xavier Williams to return from IR |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/12/04/chiefs-designate-xavier-williams-to-return-from-ir/ |website=NBCSports.com |date=December 4, 2019 |access-date=December 4, 2019}} He was activated on December 25, 2019.{{cite web|title=Chiefs put RB Spencer Ware on IR, activate DT Xavier Williams|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28369155/chiefs-put-rb-spencer-ware-ir-activate-dt-xavier-williams|author=Teicher, Adam|work=ESPN|date=December 25, 2019}} Williams won Super Bowl LIV with the Chiefs after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 31–20.
After becoming a free agent in March 2020, Williams visited the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on August 8, 2020,{{cite tweet |user=AlbertBreer |title=Also, Browns WR Jarvis Landry among those activated off PUP today. |number=1292197725719715840 |date=August 8, 2020 |access-date=August 21, 2020}} and had a tryout with the New England Patriots on August 20, 2020.{{cite tweet |user=AlbertBreer |title=Today’s tryout/visit list. |number=1296557572107968514 |date=August 20, 2020 |access-date=August 21, 2020}}
=New England Patriots=
On August 22, 2020, Williams signed with the Patriots.{{cite web|title=Patriots Sign TE Paul Quessenberry and DT Xavier Williams; Release Two Players|url=https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-sign-te-paul-quessenberry-and-dt-xavier-williams-release-two-players|website=Patriots.com|date=August 22, 2020}} On September 5, 2020, he was waived by the team and added to the practice squad the following day.{{Cite web|title=Here are the players on the Patriots' practice squad {{!}} Boston.com|url=https://www.boston.com/sports/new-england-patriots/2020/09/06/who-is-on-the-patriots-practice-squad|access-date=2020-09-07|website=www.boston.com|language=en-US}} He was elevated to the active roster on September 12 for the team's week 1 game against the Miami Dolphins,{{cite news |title=Patriots make a series of transactions |url=https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-make-a-series-of-transactions |website=Patriots.com |date=September 12, 2020 |access-date=October 1, 2020}} and reverted to the practice squad after the game on September 14.{{cite news |author=Leger, Justin |title=Patriots send Folk back to practice squad |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/patriots/patriots-send-kicker-nick-folk-back-practice-squad |website=NBCSports.com |date=September 14, 2020 |access-date=October 1, 2020}} He was released on October 2, 2020.{{cite web|title=Patriots Sign LB Michael Pinckney to the Practice Squad; Release DL Xavier Williams from the Practice Squad|url=https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-sign-lb-michael-pinckney-to-the-practice-squad-release-dl-xavier-willia|website=Patriots.com|date=October 2, 2020}}
=Cincinnati Bengals=
On October 12, 2020, Williams was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals.{{cite web|title=Bengals Sign DT Xavier Williams, Place D.J. Reader On Reserve/Injured|url=https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-sign-dt-xavier-williams-place-d-j-reader-on-reserve-injured|website=Bengals.com|date=October 12, 2020}}
Williams made his debut with the Bengals in Week 6 against the Indianapolis Colts. During the game, Williams recovered a fumble lost by tight end Jack Doyle and later recorded his first sack of the season on Philip Rivers during the 31–27 loss.{{Cite web |title=Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts – October 18th, 2020 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202010180clt.htm |access-date=October 22, 2020 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
=Arizona Cardinals (second stint)=
On June 7, 2021, Williams signed with the Cardinals.{{cite web|title=Cardinals Bring Back Defensive Lineman Xavier Williams|url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/cardinals-bring-back-xavier-williams|author=Urban, Darren|website=AZCardinals.com|date=June 7, 2021}} He was placed on injured reserve on August 8, 2021. He was released on August 16.
=Houston Texans=
On December 21, 2021, Williams was signed to the Houston Texans active roster.{{cite web|title=Houston Texans Transactions (12-21-2021)|url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/houston-texans-transactions-12-21-2021|website=HoustonTexans.com|date=December 21, 2021}} He was released on December 31.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://unipanthers.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2185 University of Northern Iowa bio]
{{Super Bowl LIV}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Xavier}}
Category:American football defensive tackles
Category:Arizona Cardinals players
Category:Cincinnati Bengals players
Category:Houston Texans players
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:Kansas City Chiefs players
Category:New England Patriots players
Category:Northern Iowa Panthers football players
Category:Players of American football from Kansas City, Missouri