After graduating from Catholic High School (Baton Rouge, Louisiana), Williams attended Vanderbilt where he played in 36 games and started 33 games. In 2007, he was First-team All-Southeastern Conference after allowing just one sack in 12 games. As a junior, Williams was a Second-team All-SEC selection after starting all 12 games at left tackle and allowing a single quarterback sack. The prior season Williams played all twelve games, starting nine at left guard but also playing left tackle. Williams was redshirted as a true freshman and did not see action the following season either.
Williams was drafted by the Bears in the first round with the 14th overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft.[2] On July 23, 2008, it was announced that he had signed a five-year contract with the Bears.[3] Williams missed the camp's first weekend after sustaining a minor back injury.[4] He was later diagnosed with separate injury, a herniated disc, which required minor surgery to repair.[5]
Williams started taking part in conditioning and work-out drills in September.[6] On November 2, 2008, he made his professional debut on the special teams in a win against the Detroit Lions.[7] Williams was a starter in 2009, and played at right tackle to accommodate Orlando Pace, whom the team acquired via free agency on April 2, 2009.[8] Smith eventually moved Williams back to left tackle after Pace was faced with inconsistent play and injuries. His first major test was to protect Jay Cutler's blindside against the highly touted Baltimore Ravens defense. The following week, he was paired against Jared Allen of the Minnesota Vikings, one of the League's top defensive lineman and pass rushers.[9] Williams' prevented Allen from sacking Cutler, as the Bears beat the Vikings, 36–30.[10]
Williams started the 2010 season as the Bears starting left tackle. However, he was injured early during the team's second game against the Dallas Cowboys. Williams spent the next several weeks nursing a hamstring injury and missed three games. Upon recovering from his injury, Mike Tice, the team's offensive line coach, decided to move Williams to the left guard position.[11]
Williams was released by the Bears on October 16, 2012.[12]
Williams signed with the St. Louis Rams on October 22, 2012.[13] He re-signed with the team on April 1, 2013, for $2.75 million on a one-year contract.[14]
Williams was invited to participate in a shoot-the-puck contest during the Chicago Blackhawks and Calgary Flames playoff on April 18, 2009.[16] During the contest, he successfully shot two pucks into two small openings in a goal from center ice.[16] Williams claims that he had never shot a puck prior to the contest.[16]
Williams is married and has two children, a daughter and a son.
