When you think of the Buffalo Bills, it’s hard to not think of Kyle Williams. Williams is one of a very small number of Bills players to play their entire career for the red, white, and blue.
Even though many of these “lifers” had, not many Bills players over the last two decades have received the overall fan base support that Kyle Williams has. His blue-collar personality, passion for the game and passion for the city, made him the perfect fit for the Queen City. Here’s a look back at some of the milestones and important moments of famous #95’s career.
Draft
Williams was drafted in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL draft, at pick 153. He was the ninth defensive tackle drafted overall and wasn’t even the first to be selected by the Bills, as John McCargo was taken in the first round.
He then signed his first entry-level deal on July 23, a three-year, $1.8 million contract that included a $144,750 signing bonus.
Playing Career
Williams emerged as a starting defensive tackle a couple of games into the 2006 season, and through the years and several defensive coordinators, he has started at both defensive tackle and nose tackle.
In his 13 seasons for the Bills, Williams played in a total of 183 games, recording 48.5 sacks, 610 combined tackles, and 12 passes defended. He also recorded an interception in 2014, which is also the third year he made it to the Pro Bowl.
Williams made six pro bowls in his career, the first in 2010, the second in 2012, and had three in a row, from 2014-2016. He made the pro bowl as an alternate in 2018, which was the final game of his career as he announced his retirement prior to the end of the 2018 season.
Possibly the highlight of his illustrious career (aside from making the playoffs with his sons in the locker room with him, breaking the drought, or getting to six pro bowls, or achieving 10.5 sacks in a season in 2014) was when William’s solidified himself as one of the most efficient running backs in league history against the Miami Dolphins. Williams scored a touchdown on a one-yard run during the last game of the season in 2017. Williams also caught a nine-yard pass during the final drive of the Bills 2018 season and the final regular season game of his career.
Thank You
There are a lot of ways to describe somebody who The Associated Press described as “the heart and soul of the Bills.” The work ethic he brought to the field was unmatched, the love he had for his teammates and his city was felt thoroughly, and the dedication he had to remain in this city for his entire career was appreciated heartily, and that’s an understatement. Kyle Williams will be greatly missed by the Buffalo Bills organization and its fans for more than just his talent, and that is the biggest understatement of this article.
