Dallas Cowboys Williams was selected by the
Dallas Cowboys in the
seventh round (208th overall) of the
1976 NFL draft as an athlete, with the intention of playing him at
running back, but he opted not to sign with the team.
Calgary Stampeders On May 19,
1976, he was signed by the
Calgary Stampeders of the
Canadian Football League to play
quarterback.
San Francisco 49ers In
1977, Williams was signed by the
San Francisco 49ers as a
free agent. That season, he was a backup
running back (alongside O.J. Simpson), but also returned one kickoff for a
touchdown. The
next year, he was used mostly on
special teams as a kickoff returner, then was released by new head coach
Bill Walsh on August 20,
1979.
Chicago Bears Nine days later on August 29, Williams was signed as a free agent by the
Chicago Bears. He started twelve games at
fullback after
Roland Harper was lost for the year with a knee injury, while blocking for
Walter Payton and registering 755 all-purpose yards. The next year, he returned to a backup and
special teams role. The biggest highlight of Williams' NFL career came on
Thanksgiving Day 1980 against the
Detroit Lions, when he returned the opening overtime kickoff 95 yards for the game-winning touchdown, completing a comeback from a 17–3 fourth-quarter deficit. At the time, it was the shortest overtime in NFL history. In November
1981, he was placed on the
injured reserve list with a fractured leg. ==Personal life==