Player Info: SS Roy Williams Bios
Sunday, October 07, 2007 at 07:02:52 pm

PICTURES

Roy Williams #31
Safety
6'0" 226 8/14/80
Oklahoma D-1 for '02 (8th overall)
NFL: 6th Year Cowboys: 6th Year

PRO: Few players have come to the Cowboys with more hype than safety Roy Williams. Even fewer have exceeded that hype as Williams has in his first five years in the league. The eighth overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft, Williams has made the last four Pro Bowls, joining three other Cowboys safeties who made four or more Pro Bowls: Cliff Harris (6), Mel Renfro (5 at safety, 5 at cornerback), and Darren Woodson (5). Since his rookie season, Williams has started all 80 regular-season games, and his string of 82 straight starts (including playoffs) is the longest active streak on the team. He earned All-Rookie honors in 2002, when he tied for the NFL lead among rookies with five interceptions, and then earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in his second season. He also made the Pro Bowl following the 2004, 2005, and 2006 seasons. A ferocious run stopper and a big playmaker against the pass, Williams will probably see more time playing closer to the line of scrimmage in Wade Phillips' 3-4 scheme in 2007. He is one of just five defensive backs - along with Ronde Barber, Brian Dawkins, Rodney Harrison, and Deshea Townsend - who have posted two or more sacks and interceptions in the same season three times in the last five years (2002-06). He has led the club in interceptions twice, in 2002 and 2006, and has returned three of his 17 career interceptions for touchdowns. He is one touchdown shy of the club record of four interception returns for a touchdown, which is held by Dennis Thurman and Dexter Coakley. He has also 6.5 career sacks. A sound tackler who has a nose for the ball, Williams has a knack for making the big hit, stopping runners without yielding additional yards.

2006: Williams made his fourth straight Pro Bowl, leading the team with five interceptions, which tied a career high and tied for 10th in the NFL in 2006. He also made two fumble recoveries and finished with a team-high seven of the Cowboys' 31 takeaways. He also ranked second on the team with 17 passes defensed and fourth on the team with 86 tackles. In the season-opening loss at Jacksonville (9/10), he made five tackles and his first interception of the season, a second-quarter pick at the Dallas 28-yard line. In the home-opening victory over Washington (9/17), he made four tackles, a tackle for a loss, and two pass breakups, including his second interception of the season. The interception came at the Dallas 1-yard line in the third quarter, with Dallas leading, 17-10. In the 45-14 win at Tennessee (10/1), Williams tied for the team lead with seven tackles. The Titans wide receivers were limited to five receptions for 31 yards, and Tennessee gained only 151 passing yards. Williams also made one special teams tackle and forced a fumble on kickoff coverage that was recovered by Tennessee. In the following week's loss at Philadelphia (10/8), he led the team with seven tackles. He also recovered an Eagles fumble on the game's opening drive and broke up a pass. In the Texas Stadium win over Houston (10/15), Williams was third on the team with seven tackles and had two pass breakups. He also recovered a fumble on kickoff coverage, setting up a drive that resulted in a field goal in the fourth quarter. His effort helped limit Andre Johnson and Eric Moulds to 9.2 yards per catch, and the Texans went 3-of-13 on third downs. In the Monday night loss to the Giants (10/23), he made seven tackles and helped limit Eli Manning to 12-of-26 passing (46.2 percent). Williams made his third interception in the Sunday night win at Carolina (10/29), picking off a Jake Delhomme pass at the Carolina 32-yard line with 4:47 left and Dallas leading, 21-14. His interception set up a Marion Barber touchdown run, which gave Dallas a 28-14 lead. Carolina was limited to 204 total yards, including 128 passing yards. In the last-minute loss at Washington (11/5), he tied for the team lead with six tackles and added a tackle for a loss and a pass breakup. Williams helped limit the Redskins to 3.7 yards per carry. In the win over previously undefeated Indianapolis (11/19), Williams intercepted Peyton Manning at the Dallas 1-yard line on third-and-goal in the second quarter. The interception was Williams' fourth of the season and the 16th of his career. He also made four tackles as the Colts were held to a season-low 14 points. In the Thanksgiving Day win over Tampa Bay (11/23), he made his fifth interception of the season, tying his career high from 2002, and added three tackles. The Bucs were held to 110 passing yards, the lowest passing total Dallas allowed in the season. In the last-minute win at the Giants (12/3), he was third on the team with eight tackles and also added a tackle for a loss. He helped hold the Giants starting wide receivers - Plaxico Burress and Tim Carter - to eight catches for 64 yards (8.0 yards per catch). In the Sunday night loss to New Orleans (12/10), he made seven tackles and his 14th pass breakup of the season. In the playoff-clinching win at Atlanta (12/16), he tied for second on the team with six tackles as the Falcons were limited to seven second-half points. In the season-ending loss to Detroit (12/31), Williams was second on the team with a season-high 10 tackles. He also tied a career high with three pass breakups. In the playoff loss at Seattle (1/6), he was fourth on the team with six tackles. His fourth-quarter interception set up Dallas at its 43-yard line and led to a 29-yard Martin Gramatica field goal, which gave Dallas a 20-13 lead with 10 minutes left.

2005: Williams finished second on the Cowboys with 82 tackles and tied for the team lead with three forced fumbles. He also tied for third on the team with three interceptions and eight passes defensed. Williams was one of just three defensive backs in the NFL - along with Brian Dawkins and Al Harris - to record more than two sacks and two interceptions. Among defensive backs, he was seventh in the NFC and 12th in NFL with 2.5 sacks, which tied him for fourth on the team. Williams was named to his third consecutive Pro Bowl. In the season-opening win at San Diego (9/11), Williams made five tackles and half a sack, which was his first sack since 2003. He helped limit LaDainian Tomlinson to 72 rushing yards. In the Monday night loss to Washington (9/19), he had a sack, two tackles, and a pass defensed. He also forced a Ladell Betts fumble just before halftime that Keith Davis recovered. He was third on the team with five tackles at San Francisco (9/25) before making seven tackles in the loss at Oakland (10/2). In the key divisional win over Philadelphia (10/9), Williams had two tackles, a tackle for a loss, and a sack. Dallas limited the Eagles top-ranked offense to 129 total yards, including just 110 passing yards. In the overtime victory over the Giants (10/16), he made five tackles, a pass defensed, and a special teams tackle. He made his biggest play of the game with 1:26 left in regulation, when he tackled Brandon Jacobs at the goal line and forced a fumble, which he recovered. In the last-minute loss at Seattle (10/23), Williams made his first interception of the season - the 10th of his career - and added five tackles. The Seahawks, who entered the game as the NFL's top-ranked offense, were limited to 289 total yards, 118 below their season average, and one touchdown. Shaun Alexander, the NFL's leading rusher at 119 yards per game (5.5 yards per carry), was limited to 61 yards on 21 carries (2.9 yards per carry). Williams' fourth-quarter interception of Matt Hasselbeck came at the Seattle 24-yard line, setting up a Dallas field goal. In the win over Arizona (10/30), he led the team with a season-high nine tackles, including one for a loss, and a pass defensed. The Cardinals were limited to 213 total yards, including just 142 net passing yards, the second-lowest passing total allowed by Dallas in the season. In the Monday night win at Philadelphia (11/14), Williams scored the winning touchdown on a 46-yard interception return, giving the Cowboys a 21-20 lead with 2:43 left in the fourth quarter. It was his second interception of the season and his third career interception return for a touchdown. He also made six tackles. In the win over Detroit (11/20), he was third on the team with six tackles and helped hold the Lions to 226 total yards, including 57 rushing yards, the second-lowest rushing total allowed by Dallas in the season. In the overtime loss to Denver (11/24) on Thanksgiving Day, Williams led the Cowboys with eight tackles and forced a fumble at the Broncos 10-yard line, which Terence Newman recovered. The fumble set up Dallas' game-tying fourth-quarter touchdown. The Broncos were limited to 149 passing yards, and their wide receivers had just six catches for 64 yards, including just one catch, a 20-yarder, over 13 yards. In the following week's loss at the Giants (12/4), he tied for second on the team with seven tackles and helped limit tight end Jeremy Shockey to two receptions for 20 yards. The Giants were held to just 150 net passing yards and one offensive touchdown. In the come-from-behind win over Kansas City (12/11), Williams was third on the team with six tackles and added his only quarterback pressure of the season. He was second on the team with seven tackles at Washington (12/18). In the following week's win at Carolina (12/24), he made one tackle and two pass breakups, including a fourth-quarter interception of Jake Delhomme at the Dallas 8-yard line that he returned six yards. Williams suffered a sprained ankle when he was tackled on the play and saw limited action the rest of the game. The injury limited him in the season-ending loss to St. Louis (1/1/06) and made just one tackle and a special teams tackle.

2004: Williams made his second straight Pro Bowl, finishing second on the team with 106 tackles, the second time in three seasons he recorded 100 or more tackles. He had two interceptions and led the team with five tackles for a loss (-15 yards). He was also third on the team with nine passes defensed. In the season-opening loss at Minnesota (9/12), Williams led all Dallas defensive backs with seven tackles. In the home-opening win over Cleveland (9/19), he tied for the team lead with six tackles, helping limit quarterback Jeff Garcia to 8-of-28 passing for 66 net yards. The Browns' starting receivers were limited to four catches for 50 yards. In the Monday night win at Washington (9/27), Williams had a career-high 14 tackles and two pass deflections. His last tackle of the night, which came at the Dallas 21-yard line, prevented Redskins receiver Rod Gardner from going out of the bounds to stop the clock. He added seven tackles in the loss to the Steelers (10/17). At Green Bay (10/24), Williams led all defensive backs with eight tackles, including one for a loss. In the win over Detroit (10/31), he made several big hits, leading the team with 10 tackles, and added one pass deflection. He led Dallas defensive backs with eight tackles at Cincinnati (11/7). In the Thanksgiving Day victory over Chicago (11/25), he made four tackles and a pressure. The Bears were limited to 49 rushing yards on 20 carries (2.5 yards per carry) and 140 total yards, the lowest total allowed by Dallas since Sept. 8, 1996. In the Cowboys' come-from-behind Monday night victory at Seattle (12/6), Williams made seven tackles and forced his first fumble of the season. The fumble occurred when Williams tackled Shaun Alexander in the third quarter for no gain. Dat Nguyen recovered it and ran nine yards to the Seattle 21-yard line. Two plays later, Julius Jones ran 10 yards up the middle for a touchdown, giving Dallas a 26-14 lead. In the loss to New Orleans (12/12), he recorded his first interception of the season, picking off Aaron Brooks on the opening drive of the second half. His 20-yard return to the Saints 42-yard line set up a drive that resulted in a field goal. He also had five tackles and two tackles for a loss as Dallas limited Deuce McAllister to 83 yards on 30 carries (2.8 yards per carry). At Philadelphia (12/19), he was third on the team with seven tackles and tied his career high with three pass breakups. He also had an interception, which he returned 33 yards to the Eagles 46-yard line. The Eagles wide receivers were held to four receptions for 58 yards, and Philadelphia was held to 208 net passing yards. Donovan McNabb, who entered the game as the NFL's third-ranked passer (107.2 rating), was limited to a 62.0 rating and two interceptions. In the win over Washington (12/26), he tied for second on the team with seven tackles, and the Redskins were held to 233 total yards. He also tackled Laveranues Coles for a six-yard loss on a screen pass. In the season-ending loss at the Giants (1/2/05), Williams was second on the team with eight tackles and added a quarterback pressure. He helped limit the Giants to 235 total yards.

2003: Williams followed his outstanding rookie season with an even better sophomore season. He was a major force on the NFL's top-ranked defense, earning All-Pro honors from The Associated Press and The Sporting News. He made the Pro Bowl as the starting free safety after finishing fourth on the Cowboys with 86 tackles and second on the Cowboys with six tackles for a loss. He was one of 10 defensive backs in the NFL with two or more sacks (2.0) and interceptions (two) in the 2003 season. He led the team with nine special teams tackles. In the season opener against Atlanta (9/7), he made five tackles, a forced fumble, a sack, and a quarterback pressure. He also helped limit the Falcons wide receivers to six catches for 89 yards, including just two catches for 30 yards by Peerless Price. Williams led the team with six tackles in the overtime win at the Giants (9/15). At the Jets (9/28), he forced a Curtis Martin fumble at the Cowboys 11-yard line in the second quarter, and the ball rolled into the end zone, where it was recovered by the Cowboys' Darren Woodson. On the ensuing possession, Dallas drove 80 yards in the final 1:42 of the half to take a 14-3 lead. Against Arizona (10/5), Williams made his first interception of the season, a fourth-quarter pick on the Cardinals' final drive of the game. His biggest hit of the day came in the second quarter, when he tackled Emmitt Smith for no gain and ended Smith's day with a fractured left shoulder blade. He helped limit the Cardinals to 151 total yards, including 32 yards on 18 carries (1.8 yards per carry). In the Cowboys' 23-21 win over Philadelphia (10/12), he made his first sack of the season and finished with six tackles. Late in the game, he broke up a goal line pass to Todd Pinkston to prevent a touchdown and also had a tackle for a loss on the Eagles' final drive, when he and Dexter Coakley stopped McNabb. Coakley forced a fumble on the play to preserve the Cowboys' 23-21 win. Williams made five tackles at Tampa Bay (10/26) and helped limit the Bucs to 133 net passing yards. Against Washington (11/2), he made five tackles, two quarterback pressures, and his second sack of the season. He also made a big hit on kickoff coverage in the second quarter after Dallas had taken a 7-6 lead. Against Buffalo (11/9), he made seven tackles and helped limit the Bills to 185 total yards, including 58 yards on seven second-half possessions. His five tackles at New England (11/16) helped limit the Patriots to 65 yards on 25 carries (2.6 yards per carry). In the Cowboys' 24-20 win over NFC Champion Carolina (11/23), he made three tackles and his second interception of the season, which he returned 30 yards to the Panthers 11-yard line, setting up a Dallas touchdown. He also recovered a fumble on the game's opening kickoff to set Dallas up for its first points of the game. Dallas helped limit Stephen Davis, who entered the game as the NFL's third-leading rusher at 108.4 yards per game, to 59 yards on 26 carries (2.3 yards per carry). Quarterback Jake Delhomme was limited to 9-of-24 passing (37.5 percent). Williams was second on the team with a season-high 12 tackles against Miami (11/27). He tied for second on the team with seven tackles at Washington (12/14), which was limited to 161 total yards, including 55 passing yards, the lowest total allowed by Dallas since Nov. 11, 2001, at Atlanta. The Washington wide receivers were held to four catches for 29 yards, including none by Laveranues Coles. The following week, the Giants (12/21) were limited to 213 total yards, including just 159 passing yards. Williams made six tackles and led the team with two tackles for a loss, one of which came on fourth down. Williams made his postseason debut at Carolina (1/3/04) and finished third on the team with eight tackles and also forced a fumble.

2002: A starter from day one, Williams earned All-Rookie honors after tying teammate Derek Ross and Baltimore safety Ed Reed for the NFL lead among rookies with five interceptions. The five interceptions, a team-high in 2002, were the most by a Dallas safety since Darren Woodson had five in 1996. Williams also was the Cowboys' leading scorer on defense, returning two of his interceptions for touchdowns. He was second on the team with 127 tackles, which was tops in the NFL among rookies and the second-most by a Dallas rookie since Dexter Coakley had 136 in 1997. Williams tied for second on the team with seven tackles for a loss. He also tied for the team lead with three forced fumbles, which ranked ninth in the NFL, and two fumble recoveries, which ranked fourth in the NFL. He added a forced fumble and a fumble recovery on special teams and finished third on the team with nine pass breakups. At Houston (9/8), Williams became the first Cowboys rookie to start the season at safety since Ron Francis in 1987. He made four tackles and a quarterback pressure. In the victory over Tennessee (9/15), he had five tackles and a quarterback pressure and helped limit the Titans to one pass of more than 18 yards. At Philadelphia (9/22), Williams made 11 tackles, two tackles for a loss, and a fumble recovery. In the 13-10 win at St. Louis (9/29), he led Dallas with a then career-high 13 tackles and also forced a Marshall Faulk fumble and broke up a Jamie Martin pass. His pressure of quarterback Kurt Warner resulted in a first-quarter interception by Greg Ellis and knocked Warner from the game. In the loss to the Giants (10/6), Williams made five tackles and his first career sack, a takedown of Kerry Collins that resulted in a five-yard loss. In the following week's victory over Carolina (10/13), he made six tackles before leaving in the third quarter with a left heel bruise. Still hobbled with the heel injury, he returned to action at Arizona (10/20) and finished fourth on the team with seven tackles. He also made his second sack of the season and a season-high two passes defensed. In the loss to Seattle (10/27), Williams was third on the team with nine tackles and helped limit Shaun Alexander to 58 yards on 23 carries (2.5 yards per carry). At Detroit (11/3), he had seven tackles and led the team with two tackles for a loss. At Indianapolis (11/17), he made 10 tackles and his first career interception when he picked off a Peyton Manning pass at the Cowboys 10-yard line. In the win over Jacksonville (11/24), Williams made eight tackles, two pass deflections, a forced fumble at the goal line, and a diving interception on the sideline that thwarted a deep pass to wide receiver Jimmy Smith. In the Thanksgiving Day win over Washington (11/28), Williams returned an interception five yards for a touchdown, cutting Dallas' deficit to 20-17 in the third quarter. The play marked his third straight game with an interception, making Williams the first Cowboy to accomplish that feat since James Washington did it from Week 4 to Week 6 in 1994. Michael Downs in 1981 was the last Dallas rookie to accomplish the feat. In the loss to San Francisco (12/8), Williams tied a season high with a team-high 13 tackles. He also tied for the team lead with three special teams tackles, including a hit on a kickoff return that forced a fumble by Jimmy Williams. The Cowboys recovered to set up a field goal. Williams finished his rookie season at Washington (12/29), making seven tackles and accounting for two Redskins turnovers. With 0:56 left in the first half, he made his fifth interception of the season and returned it 85 yards for a touchdown to tie the score at 7-7. It was the eighth-longest interception return in club history and the second- longest by a rookie. In the third quarter, the Cowboys' Tony Dixon forced a fumble by Derrius Thompson at the Dallas 11-yard line and Williams recovered it. Williams was one of just 10 defensive backs in the NFL to record multiple sacks (2.0) and interceptions (five) in 2002.

COLLEGE: Considered by many to be the nation's top collegiate football player in 2001, Williams left for the NFL after his junior season. He was a unanimous All-America and All-Big 12 selection at strong safety and won the 2001 Jim Thorpe Award, which is given to the nation's top defensive back. He also won the Bronko Nagurski Award, which is given to the nation's top defender, and was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. In leading the Sooners to a 10-2 record and a victory in the Cotton Bowl, Williams set a school record with 27 pass deflections, made a career-high 101 tackles, and added two sacks. He also had 11 tackles for a loss, one shy of his school record for defensive backs, which he set in 2000. He also intercepted five passes and recovered three fumbles. As a sophomore, Williams helped the Sooners go 12-0, including a victory over Florida State in the Orange Bowl. The national championship was Oklahoma's first since 1985. Williams earned All-America and All-Big 12 honors. He finished the year third on the team with 93 tackles, and his 12 tackles for a loss set a school record for defensive backs. He also had four sacks, two interceptions, nine pass deflections, and one fumble recovery. In 1999, Williams earned the Sporting News Freshman All-America honors after making 75 tackles and six tackles for a loss (-21 yards). He also made two interceptions and 11 pass deflections. As a true freshman in 1998, he played in the first three games of the season before suffering a back injury that forced him to miss the rest of the year. He received a medical hardship to regain a year of eligibility.

PERSONAL: Williams played quarterback, wide receiver, and defensive back at James Logan High School in Union City, Calif. He was the top-rated defensive back prospect in the western region by PrepStar after making five interceptions and 56 tackles as a senior. He caught 13 passes for 301 yards and five touchdowns as a wide receiver and rushed for 162 yards and a touchdown on 38 carries. Williams helped Logan go 38-10 in his four years, when it made two North Coast Section Class 4A championship appearances (1994, 1997) and two semifinal appearances (1995, 1996). He also lettered in track. After signing his first pro contract, Williams made a $100,000 contribution toward a new strength-training facility at the University of Oklahoma. The new area, which carries Williams' name, complements the main Robin Siegfried Complex at the Switzer Center. Since becoming a Cowboy, Williams has been very involved in the Dallas-Fort Worth community and was selected by a local panel as the team's 2004 candidate for the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. As a member of the Cowboys' 2002 Rookie Club, which introduces rookies to community service in the Dallas area, Williams made monthly visits to non-profit organizations that serve children. He also was a guest speaker at the club's annual United Way Hometown Huddle event for 100 children involved with The Salvation Army. Each year, Williams serves as a celebrity escort at the annual Children's Cancer Fund Fashion Show and Luncheon, which is co-chaired by Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach. The fundraiser helps raise $500,000. During the 2003 off-season, he presented the Cowboys' High School Coach of the Year Award to the Texas 5A State Champions Head Coach, Todd Dodge of Southlake Carroll High School. He also attended the JCPenney Afterschool Fund Gala benefiting the Boys and Girls Clubs, 4-H and Junior Achievement. Once the 2003 season began, Williams stayed busy in the community by serving as the Cowboys NFL United Way spokesperson on a national PSA campaign, supporting the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, and becoming a member of the United Way African American Leadership Society. Between games, he and several teammates volunteered to play bingo with 100 senior citizens at The Brady Center as part of the Cowboys' annual United Way Hometown Huddle event. He also annually leads the team's volunteer effort to serve an early Thanksgiving Day meal at The Salvation Army. Every Christmas, he adopts several Salvation Army ‘Angels' from its Angel Tree program - he adopted 50 in 2005 - and provided Christmas gifts to area children in need. In 2004, the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas honored Williams with the Special Recognition Award for his commitment and leadership in the Dallas community. In July 2004, he launched The Roy Williams Safety Net Foundation to enhance the quality of life for low-income single mothers in the Dallas community. The foundation was inspired by his sister. During the 2004 season and 2005 off-season, Williams remained busy in the community. He participated in a Rookie Club Alumni visit at the ChildCareGroup to carve Halloween pumpkins with 140 pre-school children from low-income families. He also attended and spoke about his support of The Salvation Army at the team's annual press conference to announce the Thanksgiving Day celebrity performers for the nationally televised halftime. Because of his volunteer work, Williams was a spokesperson for the league's 'Join the Team' PSA campaign to promote volunteer work. During the 2005 off-season, he volunteered for several community outreach efforts while at the Pro Bowl in Honolulu. Upon his return to Dallas, Williams attended the team's annual NFL Draft Day Party, which is hosted in appreciation for the club's fans. He also served as honorary 'Prince Charming' for the Fairy Tale Ball for the Classics, which is in support of the arts for low-income children, and he attended the final practice of the Cowboys Jr. Player Development Football Clinic at Texas Stadium, which is hosted for low-income youth from The Salvation Army Pleasant Grove Center. Williams majored in sociology at Oklahoma. During the 2005 season and 2006 off-season, he led the player volunteers at the team's annual early Thanksgiving Day meal and also participated in the team's United Way Hometown Huddle event, preparing and delivering Meals on Meals. Williams had a busy spring in 2006, participating in nearly all of the Pro Bowl community activities. He again served as a celebrity escort at the Children's Cancer Fund Fashion Show with Aikman and Staubach. He also joined teammates DeMarcus Ware and Marcus Spears and a dozen other players in support of the second annual Taste of the NFL: The Ultimate Dallas Cowboys Tailgate Party, which benefited the North Texas Food Bank and raised money to provide over 330,000 meals to North Texans in need. He was one of four players selected to represent the NFL and United Way of America in a new series of public service announcements for the 2006 football season. He was also selected as one of The Sporting News 'Good Guys' in a special section recognizing professional athletes who devise unique programs to help the community. Williams hosted a fundraising golf tournament for his foundation and ChildCareGroup, and he served as a 'celebrity coach' at the Dallas Cowboys/NFL Jr. Player Development Football Camp, which is hosted by The Salvation Army. His aunt, Vecepia Towery, was the winner of the popular CBS television series Survivor: Marquesas in the spring of 2002.