Roy Williams (wide receiver)

This article is about the wide receiver. For the retired safety, see Roy Williams (safety).

Roy Williams

refer to caption Williams with the Cowboys in 2008
No. 11
Position:	Wide receiver
Personal information
Date of birth:	(1981-12-20) December 20, 1981
Place of birth:	Odessa, Texas
Height:
Weight:
Career information
High school:	Odessa (TX) Permian
College:	Texas
NFL draft:	2004 / Round: 1 / Pick: 7
Career history
Detroit Lions (2004–2008) Dallas Cowboys (2008–2010) Chicago Bears (2011)
Career highlights and awards
Pro Bowl (2006) NFC receiving yards leader (2006) Cotton Bowl Classic MVP (2003) Honorable Mention All-Big 12 (2000)
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 393 Receiving yards: 5,715 Receiving TDs: 44 Player stats at NFL.com

Roy Eugene Williams, Jr. (born December 20, 1981) is a former American football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons. He played college football for the University of Texas Longhorns. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions seventh overall in the 2004 NFL Draft. Williams also played for the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears.

Early years

Williams attended high school at Permian High School (Odessa, TX), where he starred in multiple sports. He lettered in football, track, baseball, and basketball, earning all-state honors in football and track and all-district accolades in baseball and basketball. Williams also performed well in the Academic side of life making the Honor roll all 4 years while attending Permian High School .

College career

Arriving at the University of Texas, Williams and freshmen receivers BJ Johnson and Sloan Thomas were touted as the most talented group of incoming receivers in school history. By the end of his college career, Williams had become one of the most decorated receivers in Texas Longhorns history. Nicknamed "The Legend", he left school as the all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. He was a member of the All-Conference Team for the Big 12 on three occasions, and was a semi-finalist for the Biletnikoff Award during both his junior and senior seasons.

Track and field

Williams was also a track star at the University of Texas, where he recorded a personal best of 10.30 seconds in the 100 meters.

Williams also specialized in high jump and long jump.

Personal bests

Event	Time (seconds)	Venue	Date
100 meters	10.30	Lubbock, Texas	April 29, 2000

Event	Mark (meters)	Venue	Date
High jump	2.08	Lubbock, Texas	April 29, 2000
Long jump	7.77	Austin, Texas	May 13, 2000

NFL career

2004 NFL Draft

Williams was drafted 7th overall in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. Many draft experts considered the pick a bold move since they had drafted Charles Rogers with the 2nd overall pick the year before.

2004 NFL Combine

Pre-draft measurables

Ht	Wt	40-yd dash	10-yd split	20-yd split	20-ss	3-cone	Vert	Broad	BP	Wonderlic
6 ft 3 in	212 lb	4.36 s			3.97 s	6.75 s	39.5 in		9 reps	17
All values from NFL combine

Detroit Lions

In 2004 Williams recorded 54 receptions for 817 yards and 8 touchdowns, in 12 games, he suffered an ankle injury midway through the season that limited his effectiveness. The following season, the team spent their first round draft pick (10th overall) on yet another receiver, this time USC star Mike Williams. Roy Williams had a productive year for the 2006 Lions, having 1,310 yards, 7 touchdowns and a 16.0 average. The 1,310 yards were the most in the NFC; and tied with Indianapolis Colts receiver Reggie Wayne for 3rd most in the NFL. Williams' 16.0 average was first in the NFL for receivers with more than 25 receptions. He also had 24 catches of plus-20 yards which ranked first in the NFL. He and teammate Mike Furrey caught more passes (178) than any other duo in the NFC. Williams was named an alternate for the 2007 Pro Bowl. When Torry Holt withdrew due to injury, Williams was named to the active squad. He was the first Detroit wide receiver to make the Pro Bowl since 1998 (Herman Moore). Williams was the 2007 recipient of the Detroit Lions/Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association/Pro Football Writers Association's Media-Friendly "Good Guy" Award. The Good Guy Award is given yearly to the Detroit Lions player who shows consideration to, and cooperation with the media at all times during the course of the season.

Dallas Cowboys

Williams was traded to the Dallas Cowboys on October 14, 2008 for first, third and sixth round picks in the 2009 NFL Draft (the Cowboys also received a seventh round pick from the Lions in the 2010 draft). He was then signed to a new contract through the 2014 season; he agreed to a 6-year, $54 million contract, along with $26 million guaranteed. After being traded mid-season to the Cowboys, Williams started seven games, catching 19 passes for 198 yards and one touchdown. By the close of the 2010 season, Williams had totaled 99 regular season/playoffs catches for the Cowboys and 13 touchdowns, 11 of which came from in the redzone. In 2009 Williams was a major catalyst helping the Cowboys win their first playoff game since 1996 making 5 catches for 59 yards including several crucial third down catches in the first half, helping set the tone for the rest of the game. His best game with the Cowboys was against in state rival Houston Texans in which he recorded 117 yards and 2 touchdowns on 5 catches while only being targeted 6 times. He was released by the Cowboys on July 28, 2011.

Chicago Bears

A day after being released by the Cowboys, Williams agreed to join the Chicago Bears for a 1-year $2.46 million contract. His best game with the Bears was Christmas night vs. the Green Bay Packers with 6 catches for 81 yards.

Williams announced his retirement from the NFL on his Facebook page on September 8, 2012.

NFL stats

Receiving Stats

Year	Team	Games	Receptions	Targets	Yards	Yards per Reception	Longest Reception	Touchdowns	First Downs	Fumbles	Fumbles Lost
2004	DET	14	54	-	817	15.1	46	8	34	1	1
2005	DET	13	45	-	687	15.3	51	8	31	0	0
2006	DET	16	82	152	1,310	16.0	60	7	66	2	2
2007	DET	12	64	103	838	13.1	91	5	34	2	1
2008	DET	5	17	39	232	13.6	25	1	14	0	0
2008	DAL	10	19	43	198	10.4	38	1	12	0	0
2009	DAL	15	38	88	596	15.7	66	7	29	1	1
2010	DAL	15	37	64	530	14.3	63	5	25	3	2
2011	CHI	15	37	63	507	13.7	25	2	29	0	0
Career		115	393	552	5,715	14.5	91	44	274	9	7

Rushing Stats

Year	Team	Games	Carries	Yards	Yards per Carry	Longest Carry	Touchdowns	First Downs	Fumbles	Fumbles Lost
2004	DET	14	1	1	1.0	1	0	0	0	0
2006	DET	16	2	2	1.0	2	0	0	0	0
2007	DET	12	2	1	0.5	9	0	1	0	0
2008	DAL	10	1	13	13.0	13	0	1	0	0
Career		115	6	17	2.8	13	0	2	0	0

Personal

Williams played a small role in the 2004 sports film Friday Night Lights (his older brother, (Lloyd Hill) was on the team the movie was based on). Williams played the role of an assistant coach for Midland Lee High School, which is one of Permian's biggest rivals. His one spoken line in the film is, "He ain’t going to play."

External links

• Roy Williams on IMDb
• Archived Chicago Bears bio