Brandon Williams' career in the National Football League ended the way every player hopes.
He is a Super Bowl champion.
Williams, former All-American at Missouri Southern before a 10-year NFL career, is part of the Joplin Sports Authority Hall of Fame Class of 2024.
He was the third-round choice of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2013 NFL Draft (No. 94 overall). The Ravens chose not to sign him after the 2021 season, and Williams was accepting the realization that his career might be over.
But late in the 2022 season, the Kansas City Chiefs gave him a call, and they signed him to their practice squad on Nov. 30.
"I was just chilling on my couch," Williams said during an interview on Glenn Close Radio in Baltimore. "I definitely didn't see this coming, but it's totally a blessing. And I'm going to take in every moment."
Just eight days later, Williams was promoted to the active roster, and he played in five regular-season games and three playoff games, capped by the 38-35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 57.
Williams' career came full circle by ending with the Chiefs. He played high school football at Rockwood Summit near St. Louis and college football at Missouri Southern.
He was named Suburban South defensive player of the year after making 99 tackles at Rockwood Summit his junior year, and he transferred to Harmony Prep School in Cincinnati for his senior year.
At Missouri Southern, he was an immediate impact player his freshman year with 38 tackles. He missed the 2009 season because of a back injury, but he was an all-MIAA player from 2010-12, including the conference's defensive player of the year in 2012 after collecting 68 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 quarterback sacks, and 8 QB hurries. He was named national defensive player of the year by D2football.com.
Williams played seven games in his rookie year with the Ravens and logged a fumble recovery in his debut against the Buffalo Bills.
In the next eight seasons (2014-21), Williams missed only 12 games, and he started in all but two of the 116 games he played. His best two statistical seasons came back-to-back when he made 53 tackles in 2015 and 51 in 2016.
His career totals: 184 solo and 325 total tackles, 7.0 sacks, 34 tackles for loss, 11 passes defended, two forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, and one touchdown.
That touchdown came in Week 15 in 2017 during a 27-10 victory over the winless Cleveland Browns.
Midway through the third quarter, Ravens punter Sam Koch pinned the Browns at their 4-yard line. The Ravens' Za'Darius Smith forced a fumble as he sacked quarterback DeShone Kizer, and the ball bounced just outside the goal line.
Williams grabbed the ball with his left arm and moved it to his right arm as he scooted to get in the end zone.
"Man, my mind just went blank," Williams told
baltimoreravens.com. "I'm just happy I got the touchdown. The ball was outside a little bit, and I had to switch arms and scoot over in (the end zone).
"I'm just happy my teammate 'Z' hit the ball out of his hand, and I was able to make a play on it. That's just how our defense is. We play off one another. So I'm happy for my guys, and we all come together."
