Aeneas Williams facts for kids
Williams with the St. Louis Rams in 2004
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| Position: | Cornerback Safety |
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| Born: | January 29, 1968 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 200 lb (91 kg) | ||||||||||||||||
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| High school: | Alcée Fortier (New Orleans, Louisiana) |
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| College: | Southern (1988–1990) | ||||||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1991 / Round: 3 / Pick: 59 | ||||||||||||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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Aeneas Demetrius Williams (pronounced un-NEE-us; born January 29, 1968) is a famous American former professional football player. He played as a cornerback and safety in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons. Williams played college football for the Southern Jaguars. He was picked by the Phoenix Cardinals in the 1991 NFL draft, staying with them for 10 seasons. For his last four seasons, he played for the St. Louis Rams. Williams was chosen for the Pro Bowl eight times and was named first-team All-Pro three times. He was also part of the National Football League 1990s All-Decade Team. In 2014, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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Early Life and High School Football
Aeneas Williams was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. His parents are Lawrence and Lillian Williams. He is the youngest of three brothers, Malcolm and Achilles. Aeneas went to Alcee Fortier High School. He played football there with three future NFL players. These players were Maurice Hurst, Kevin Lewis, and Ashley Ambrose.
In 1985, his high school team, the Fortier Tarpons, had a perfect season. They won all 10 games and the District 10-4A championship. They then reached the Class 4A semifinals. Aeneas was chosen for the all-district team as a strong safety that year.
College Football Journey
After high school, Williams did not receive any scholarship offers for football. He decided to attend Southern University, where his brother Achilles also studied. His main goal was to earn an accounting degree. "Our parents always expected that we would go to college and get our degree," he explained. "Playing football never crossed my mind."
He focused on his studies and did not play football until his junior year. His former high school teammate, Maurice Hurst, encouraged him to join the team. Aeneas joined as a "walk-on," meaning he wasn't on scholarship. He started on special teams but became a starter by the fifth game. Williams kept his football involvement a secret from his family at first.
In his next season, Williams was named to the All-Southwestern Athletic Conference team. He led the conference with seven interceptions. In 1990, Williams stayed on the team as a graduate student and fifth-year senior. This was to improve his chances in the NFL draft. He made the All-SAC team again. He also tied the NCAA Division I-AA (now called the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision) record. He had eleven interceptions that season. Williams finished his college career with 20 interceptions and 28 pass deflections.
NFL Career Highlights
The Phoenix Cardinals were impressed by Williams's college performance. They selected him in the third round of the 1991 NFL draft. Williams quickly showed his talent in his first season. He tied for the most interceptions in the NFC. In 1994, he led the entire NFL with 9 interceptions.
By the 1997 season, Williams had already played in four Pro Bowl games. He was known as the Cardinals' best cornerback. He often covered the opposing team's top receivers. In the 1998 season, Williams helped the Cardinals win their first playoff game since 1947. He intercepted two passes from Troy Aikman in a 20–7 win against the Dallas Cowboys. He had another interception in the Cardinals' next playoff game.
Even though he mostly played for teams that didn't win much, Williams was seen as one of the best cornerbacks. He made six Pro Bowls while with the Cardinals. Many consider him one of the greatest defenders in Cardinals history. In 2000, he tied an NFL record. He returned a fumble 104 yards for a touchdown against the Washington Redskins.
In 2001, Williams was traded to the St. Louis Rams. He switched to playing free safety for the team. As a leader on the Rams' improved defense, Williams got to play in the playoffs again. In a playoff game against the Green Bay Packers, he returned two interceptions for touchdowns. He also recovered a fumble. In the NFC Championship game, he intercepted a pass from Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. This play sealed the win for the Rams, sending them to Super Bowl XXXVI. However, the Rams lost that Super Bowl to the New England Patriots.
Williams quietly retired after the 2004 season. During his career, he scored 12 defensive touchdowns. This includes 9 interceptions returned for touchdowns and 3 fumbles recovered for touchdowns. He also had 55 career interceptions. He recovered 23 fumbles and gained 1,075 total defensive return yards. He was also a 4-time All-Pro selection. Williams played in the playoffs only four times in 14 years. But he made the most of those chances. He intercepted 6 passes and recovered one fumble in his first four playoff games.
Life After Football
Aeneas Williams was honored by the Arizona Cardinals in 2008. He was inducted into their Ring of Honor. On January 18, 2009, he presented the George Halas Trophy to the Arizona Cardinals. This was after their victory in the NFC Championship game. It led to the Cardinals' first trip to the Super Bowl.
Williams is now the founding pastor of Spirit Church in St. Ann. He and his wife Tracy have three daughters: Saenea (which is Aeneas spelled backward), Tirzah, and Cheyenne. They also have a son named Lazarus.
Williams was a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012 and 2013. He was finally elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on February 1, 2014. His induction ceremony took place on August 2. On September 24, 2014, Williams was also inducted into the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame.
