Randal Williams

Randal Ellison Williams (born May 21, 1978) is an American football free agent tight end in the National Football League.

Williams attended Deerfield Academy and then the University of New Hampshire. He was sign as an undrafted free agent by the Jacksonville Jaguars, then released and signed by the Dallas Cowboys.

Williams' career with the Cowboys could be considered mediocre at best: although he had adequate playing time during the first three seasons, he did not catch a single pass. However, in a 2003 game against the Philadelphia Eagles, he did return an onside kick for a touchdown which officially took just three seconds. This was the fastest kick-off return for a touchdown in NFL history and, as the kick was the opening kick of the game, was also fastest score to start a game since the NFL began using a scoreboard clock. However, for Williams to have run 37 yards in three seconds would have required the equivalent of a 9.8 second 100 metre dash, which is somewhat unlikely given that Williams was wearing football pads and slowed before reaching the goal-line. Replays show clearly that the game clock didn't actually start until after Williams took a few steps, at least two seconds. During the end of the 2004 season, however, Williams, who had largely been phased out of the offense, was given the chance to start several games alongside Keyshawn Johnson following injuries to Terry Glenn and Quincy Morgan, the wide receivers above him on the depth chart. Although he would have a larger role for the rest of the season, Williams only caught one pass in his career with the Cowboys, and he was released during the 2005 preseason.

Williams was signed by the Raiders as a free agent on August 2, 2005. He was released on August 4, 2007.