Pat Williams (American football)

Patrick "Pat" Williams Sr. (born October 24, 1972) is a former American football defensive tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL) for fourteen seasons. He played college football for Texas A&M University. He was signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 1997. Williams also played for the Minnesota Vikings. He was a three-time Pro Bowl selection.

College career
After graduating from Wossman High School in Monroe, Louisiana, Williams attended Navarro College, where he was a two-time junior college All-American in 1992 and 1993. He initially transferred to Texas A&M University in 1994, but failed the math portion of a junior-college exit exam and was ruled ineligible for the 1994 season. He transferred again to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, where he graduated in 1995, before returning to Texas A&M. Williams earned 2nd-team All-SWC as a junior in 1995 in only 6 starts. He also started 8 games and appeared in 11 as a senior.

Buffalo Bills
Williams went undrafted in the 1997 NFL Draft, and signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent the same year. He played in just one game his rookie season. During the 1998–2000 seasons, he was a regular contributor, but did not become a regular starter until the 2001 season. In 2000, he was named to USA Today’s All-Joe Team, recognizing the NFL’s most "overlooked, ignored and hard-working" players. Williams intercepted his first career pass and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown, picking off Miami Dolphins quarterback A.J. Feeley on December 5, 2004, sealing the win for Buffalo 42-32 and breaking open a 3-point game with 1:55 left to play. Williams was named 2003 winner of the Ed Block Courage Award by his teammates. During his final four seasons with the Bills (2001–2004), he started in all but four games. He became a free agent after the 2004 season.

Minnesota Vikings
Prior to the 2005 season, Williams signed with the Minnesota Vikings, the 1st signing for the team in 2005 free agency and a priority signing. Following an advice by then defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin, Williams lost 15 pounds in the offseason. Although he's a defensive tackle when the Minnesota Vikings were in a 4-3 defense, some sources list him as a nose tackle. As a player for the Vikings, he was selected to his first Pro Bowl in 2006, and followed with consecutive selections in 2007 and 2008. He was also a second-team All-Pro selection in 2007. He also helped the Vikings compile the best rushing defense in the league over the past three seasons. He and his teammate Kevin Williams were known collectively as the "Williams Wall" due to their contribution to the Vikings excellent rushing defense.

On December 2, 2008, Pat and teammate Kevin Williams were suspended for 4 games by the league for violating its anti-doping policy, for use of a diuretic, which can be used a masking agent for steroid use. It is believed that the diuretic was found in a weight-loss supplement that he had been taking. Williams, along with Kevin Williams, appealed the suspension to a Minnesota federal court; the judge ruled against the NFL's decision and allowed all suspended players, including Williams, to play until a further review of the case.

On April 28, 2011, the Minnesota Supreme Court declined to consider Williams' appeal of the case, clearing the way for the NFL to suspend Williams.

In the 2009 season, Williams made 44 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles. He announced that he might retire after the season, but decided to come back for one more year in 2010. He was the oldest defensive player in the NFL.

On March 2, 2011, Williams announced that he would not re-sign with the Vikings for the 2011 season. "Everything’s good. I am not coming back. Going to go finish elsewhere." He ended his NFL career playing nose tackle when he retired.

Personal
Williams is married to Valarie, and the couple has two daughters, Crystal and Alesha, and a son, Pat Jr..