John Williams (running back)

Last updated

John Williams
No. 38, 40, 45
Position: Running back
Personal information
Born: (1960-10-26) October 26, 1960 (age 63)
Muskegon, Michigan, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:213 lb (97 kg)
Career information
High school: Muskegon (MI) Reeths-Puffer
College: Wisconsin
Undrafted: 1985
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:19
Rushing attempts:14
Rushing yards:42
Receptions:1
Receiving yards:5
Player stats at PFR

John Alan Williams (born October 26, 1960) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts. He also was a member of the Michigan Panthers and Oakland Invaders in the United States Football League (USFL). He played college football at the University of Wisconsin.

Contents

Early life

Williams attended Reeths Puffer High School, where he practiced football and track. He accepted a football scholarship from the University of Wisconsin. As a freshman, he scored on a 40-yard touchdown run with his first collegiate carry. He had 6 carries for 56 yards and one touchdown as a backup.

As a sophomore, he led the team with 119 carries for 526 yards (4.4-yard avg.). As a junior, he led the team with 116 carries for 634 yards (5.5-yard avg.) and 3 rushing touchdowns (second on the team).

As a senior, he registered 77 carries for 287 yards (third on the team) and 4 touchdowns. He finished his college career with 318 carries for 1,503 yards (4.7-yard avg.), 8 rushing touchdowns, 13 receptions for 103 yards and one receiving touchdown.

Professional career

Michigan Panthers/Oakland Invaders

Williams was selected by the Michigan Panthers in the 14th round (159th overall) of the 1983 USFL draft. He helped the team capture the USFL's first championship. He suffered a toe injury and did not play in the 24–22 title win over the Atlantic Division champion Philadelphia Stars. He was second on the team behind Ken Lacy with 153 carries for 624 yards (4.1-yard avg.), while registering 13 touchdowns (led the team) and a 24.2 kickoff average on 12 returns (led the team).

In 1984, he led the team with 197 carries for 984 yards (5-yard avg.) and 8 rushing touchdowns, while also posting 1,199 total yards from scrimmage (led the team) and 25 receptions for 215 yards. He set a franchise record with a 72-yard touchdown run. He tallied 177 rushing yards in the first-round 21-27 playoff loss against the Los Angeles Express, which at the time was the longest game in professional football history.

In 1985, he moved to Oakland when the franchise merged with the Invaders. He was second on the team behind Albert Bentley with 186 carries for 857 yards (4.6-yard avg.) and 9 rushing touchdowns (led the team). He helped the team reach the USFL championship game where it suffered a 24–28 loss against the Baltimore Stars.

Williams finished his three-year USFL career as the franchise's all-time leading rusher with 2,645 yards and as the sixth leading All-time rusher in league history.

Dallas Cowboys

On August 15, 1985, he signed as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys after the Oakland Invaders folded. He made the team over fullback Ron Springs. [1] He played in 8 games as a backup to fullback Timmy Newsome. He had 13 carries for 40 yards and averaged 21.5 yards on 6 kickoff returns. He was released on October 29, to make room for fullback Todd Fowler. [2]

Seattle Seahawks

On November 6, 1985, he was signed as a free agent by the Seattle Seahawks. He played in 2 games before being placed on the injured reserve list. He was released before the start of the season on August 28, 1986. [3]

New Orleans Saints

On September 2, 1986, he signed as a free agent with the New Orleans Saints. [4] He was limited with a sprained knee injury that he suffered in his first carry as a Saint. He only appeared in 7 games and spent the last 5 contests of the season on the injured reserve list. He was released on September 7, 1987. [5]

Indianapolis Colts

On September 8, 1987, he was claimed off waivers by the Indianapolis Colts to replace an injured Owen Gill. [6] He was released on September 27, one game after the NFL strike was canceled. [7]

Calgary Stampeders

In 1988, he signed with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League, reuniting with head coach Lary Kuharich, who was his offensive coordinator with the Oakland Invaders. He was placed on the injured reserve list, before being activated for the sixth game against the Calgary Stampeders. He was released from the active roster and signed to the practice roster on October 21. [8] He was released from the practice roster on November 6. [9] He finished with 44 carries for 130 yards.

Related Research Articles

Richard Darnoll Anderson is an American former professional football player who was a fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Troy Hambrick is an American former professional football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals. He played college football at University of South Carolina and Savannah State University.

Aveion Marquel Cason is a former American football running back and kick returner in the National Football League (NFL) for the St. Louis Rams, Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the Florida Tuskers in the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Illinois State University.

Alonzo Walter Highsmith, Sr. is an American football executive, former fullback, and former boxer who is the senior personnel executive for the New England Patriots. He served as the vice president of player personnel for the Cleveland Browns from 2018 to 2019. Before that, Highsmith served as a senior personnel executive for the Green Bay Packers for six seasons from 2012 to 2017. He also played in the NFL for the Houston Oilers, Dallas Cowboys, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes.

Derrick Luther Gainer is a former American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Raiders, and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Florida A&M University. He won two Super Bowls back-to-back with Dallas over the Buffalo Bills.

Gordon Gerard Banks is an American former professional football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the Oakland Invaders of the United States Football League (USFL). He played college football at Stanford University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jackie Battle</span> American football player (born 1983)

Ewart Haron "Jackie" Battle III is a former American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, and Tennessee Titans. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys in 2007. He played college football at the University of Houston.

Jamar Martin is an American former professional football fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, and New York Jets. He played college football at Ohio State University.

Dominique Ross is a former American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the Jacksonville Tomcats in the Arena Football League 2. He played college football at Valdosta State University.

Todd Fowler is an American former professional football tight end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the Houston Gamblers in the United States Football League (USFL). He played college football at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Trey Williams is an American professional football running back who is a free agent. He signed with the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2015. Williams has also been a member of the Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers, Toronto Argonauts, San Antonio Commanders, Seattle Dragons, Calgary Stampeders, New Jersey Generals and Pittsburgh Maulers. He played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rod Smith (running back)</span> American football player (born 1992)

Rod Smith is an American football running back who is a free agent. He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2015. He played college football at Ohio State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bo Scarbrough</span> American football player (born 1994)

Bo Scarbrough is an American former professional football running back. He played college football at Alabama before a four year National Football League (NFL) career, largely for the Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions. Following his tenure in the NFL, Scarbrough played two seasons in the USFL with the Birmingham Stallions, winning back to back USFL Championships. He currently serves as an analyst with “The Bama Standard” podcast on “The Bama Standard Network” YouTube channel (2021–present).

Alvin Wilbert Blount is an American former professional football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the Washington Commandos and Albany Firebirds of the Arena Football League (AFL). He played college football at the University of Maryland.

Ricky Darnell Blake is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, San Antonio Riders, Fort Worth Cavalry and Barcelona Dragons. He played college football at Northwest Mississippi Community College.

Dwight Dewitt Sullivan is a former American football fullback in the United States Football League (USFL) for the New Jersey Generals. He played college football at North Carolina State University.

Michael L. Whiting is a former American football fullback in the United States Football League (USFL) for the Jacksonville Bulls. He played college football at Florida State University.

Sewo Olonilua is an American professional football running back for the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at TCU.

Nick Ralston is an American football fullback who is a free agent. He played college football at Louisiana and Arizona State. He signed with the Cowboys after going undrafted in the 2021 NFL draft.

Earnest Christopher "E. J." Jones is a former American football fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at the University of Kansas.

References

  1. ↑ "The Dallas Cowboys, unsuccessful in an attempt to trade..." Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Cowboys get physical with NFL opponents" . Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Transactions" . Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Sports Beat" . Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Transactions" . Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Transactions" . Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Transactions" . Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Transactions" . Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Transactions" . Retrieved February 5, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.