Joel Williams (linebacker)

Joel Williams
Williams (left) in 2016
No. 58, 59, 54
PositionLinebacker
Personal information
Born (1956-12-13) December 13, 1956
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight222 lb (101 kg)
Career information
High schoolNorth Miami (North Miami, Florida)
CollegeWisconsin–La Crosse
NFL draft1979: undrafted
Career history
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Sacks27.0
Fumble recoveries12
Interceptions5
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Joel Williams (born December 13, 1956) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Atlanta Falcons and the Philadelphia Eagles from 1979 to 1989. As a Falcon in 1980, he led the National Football Conference (NFC) in quarterback sacks with 16.[1][2] In 1983, he was traded from Atlanta to Philadelphia in exchange for the Eagles' second-round pick in the 1984 NFL draft,[3] and played for the Eagles from 1984 to 1986. After a contract dispute, he was traded back to Atlanta for a fifth-round pick in the 1986 NFL draft and was reunited with Eagles' defensive coordinator Marion Campbell, who had been hired as the Falcons' head coach. Williams finished out the remainder of his career with the Falcons. He played college football for the Wisconsin–La Crosse Eagles.

References

  1. ^ "Forgotten Falcons: Joel Williams". June 17, 2020.
  2. ^ "Pro Football Journal: Atlanta Falcons Joel Williams's 1980 Season". January 5, 2017.
  3. ^ "Montgomery Out 3-6 Weeks". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. August 22, 1983. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 1330888409.