D. J. Williams (American football coach)

Last updated

D. J. Williams
Washington Commanders
Title Quarterbacks coach
Career information
High school Tampa Catholic
(Tampa, Florida)
Hargrave Military
(Chatham, Virginia)
College Grambling State (2011–2014)
Position Quarterback
Career history

Doug "D. J." Williams Jr. [1] is an American professional football coach and former American football quarterback who is the quarterbacks coach for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). Williams played college football for the Grambling State Tigers.

Contents

Early life and college career

D. J. Williams was born to Lataunya and Doug Williams, the latter of whom was a Super Bowl MVP for the Washington Redskins. [2] Williams first attended Tampa Catholic High School in Tampa, Florida, where he played football. [3] He then transferred to Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia before the 2010 season. [4] Williams continued his football career for the Grambling State Tigers, where he emerged as the starting quarterback under his father, who was the head coach. [5] In his first year at Grambling State, Williams led the team to winning the SWAC Football Championship Game over Alabama A&M in 2011. [6] Williams began struggling as quarterback in 2013, causing him to temporarily lose his starting job with team struggles culminating in his father being fired. [7] [8] Williams college career was ended in October during the 2014 season after he required surgery on his ACL. [7]

Coaching career

After going undrafted in the 2015 NFL draft, Williams participated in tryouts with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens but was unable to land a spot on either team's rosters. [7] [9] Williams began his coaching career assisting the New Orleans Saints during training camp in 2017 and working in the team's coaches and football operations department in 2018. [10] In 2019, Williams became an offensive assistant for the Saints, a role he would hold until 2023. [10] While with the Saints, Williams joined the coaching staff for the Senior Bowl. [11] In 2024, Williams joined the Atlanta Falcons as an offensive analyst, specifically taking on a role as the assistant quarterbacks coach. [12] Williams would be promoted in 2025 to the role of primary quarterbacks coach. [13] During the season, Williams defended his relationship with quarterback Michael Penix Jr. as positive after a press conference in which Penix did not attribute any internal support of his performance to his coaches. [14]

In January 2026, Williams was hired by the Washington Commanders as quarterbacks coach. [15]

References

  1. ↑ Walker, Rod (July 30, 2019). "Saints' assistant D.J. Williams, son of Doug Williams, hopes to carve niche in NFL like dad". NOLA.com.
  2. ↑ "Son of HBCU icon lands major NFL coaching role". Raleigh News & Observer. June 9, 2025. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  3. ↑ A. Encina, Eduardo (September 4, 2009). "TAMPA CATHOLIC". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  4. ↑ "New Hargrave coach assesses 2010 talent". On3.com. 2010. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  5. ↑ Hunt, Donald (January 10, 2012). "Doug Williams paves the way for his son". ESPN. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  6. ↑ Bryant, Bill (December 10, 2011). "Grambling rallies to beat Alabama A&M for SWAC championship (slideshow)". AL.com. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 Isabella, Sean (May 4, 2015). "D.J. Williams comes back from ACL surgery to earn tryout with Steelers". Shreveport Times. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Williams Fired as Grambling Coach". The New York Times. September 11, 2013. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  9. ↑ Wilson, Aaron (June 30, 2019). "Former Redskins quarterback Doug Williams son, D.J. Williams, tries out for Ravens, two other QBs, sources say". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  10. 1 2 Walker, Rod (July 30, 2019). "Saints' assistant D.J. Williams, son of Doug Williams, hopes to carve niche in NFL like dad". Nola.com. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  11. ↑ Hendrix, John (January 28, 2023). "D.J. Williams to Join Senior Bowl Coaching Staff". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  12. ↑ Hendrix, John (February 9, 2024). "Saints Assistant Coach Leaving For NFC South Rival Falcons". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  13. ↑ Ledbetter, D. Orlando (February 13, 2025). "Falcons promote T.J. Yates, D.J. Williams on offense". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  14. ↑ Ledbetter, D. Orlando (November 14, 2025). "Falcons' D.J. Williams shuts down talk of Penix Jr. lacking support". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
  15. ↑ Geitheim, Eva (January 14, 2026). "Commanders Hire Son of a Franchise Legend As New Quarterbacks Coach". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
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