K'Waun Williams facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
K'Waun Williams

Williams with the San Francisco 49ers in 2017
No. 36, 24, 21
Position:	Cornerback
Personal information
Born:	(1991-07-12) July 12, 1991 (age 34) Paterson, New Jersey, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight:	185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school:	Saint Joseph Regional (Montvale, New Jersey)
College:	Pittsburgh (2010–2013)
Undrafted:	2014
Career history
Cleveland Browns (2014–2015) Chicago Bears (2016)* San Francisco 49ers (2017–2021) Denver Broncos (2022–2023)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 345 Sacks: 8.0 Forced fumbles: 11 Fumble recoveries: 3 Pass deflections: 34 Interceptions: 5
Player stats at PFR

K'Waun Lamar Williams (/ˈkeɪwɔːn/ KAY-wawn; born July 12, 1991) is an American former professional football player. He played as a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) from 2014 to 2023. He played college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers. During his NFL career, he played for the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, and Denver Broncos.

Early Life and High School Football

K'Waun Williams grew up in Paterson, New Jersey. He played high school football for the Green Knights at Saint Joseph Regional High School in Montvale, New Jersey. He was a very versatile player, meaning he could play many different positions. He played as a running back, wide receiver, and cornerback.

In his final year of high school, he was chosen as one of the best players in New Jersey. He made 32 tackles, caught two interceptions, and recovered two fumbles. He also scored four rushing touchdowns and four receiving touchdowns. K'Waun Williams has Jamaican family roots.

College Football Career

After high school, Williams went on to play college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers. He played for the Panthers from 2010 to 2013.

Professional Football Career

Starting in the NFL

Before the 2014 NFL draft, experts thought Williams was one of the top cornerback players. Even though he wasn't chosen in the draft, two teams, the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers, offered him a chance to try out. Williams chose to join the Browns. He wanted to work again with Jeff Hafley, who had been his coach at Pitt and had also recruited him in high school.

Playing for the Cleveland Browns

Williams with the Cleveland Browns in 2014

Williams officially joined the Cleveland Browns on May 20, 2014. He signed a two-year contract with the team.

2014 Season

During the Browns' training camp, Williams worked hard to earn a spot on the team. He competed to be a backup cornerback and a player on special teams. He also tried out for the nickelback position, which is a defensive player who covers receivers in the middle of the field.

The Browns' coach, Mike Pettine, named Williams the seventh cornerback on the team's depth chart. This meant he was a backup player. He was also the backup nickelback.

Williams played his first professional game against the Steelers. He made three tackles in that game. He stepped in as the nickelback when another player had trouble covering passes. On October 5, 2014, Williams had a great game against the Tennessee Titans. He made six tackles, blocked a pass, and got his first career sack. A sack is when a defensive player tackles the opposing team's quarterback behind the line of scrimmage.

The next week, Williams started his first game as a nickelback. He made a tackle and blocked two passes before leaving the game because of a concussion. He missed the next game due to his concussion. Later in the season, he missed two more games because of a hamstring injury. By the end of his first year in 2014, he had 38 tackles, eight pass deflections, and one sack in 13 games.

2015 Season

In 2015, Williams became the main nickelback for the Browns. This happened after the previous nickelback left the team. The coach named him the third cornerback on the team's depth chart.

In Week 2, he made three tackles and sacked quarterback Marcus Mariota. He missed two games later in the season because of another concussion. He also missed a game due to a shoulder injury. Williams finished the 2015 season with 39 tackles, two pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. He also had one sack in 13 games.

Leaving the Browns

In August 2016, Williams had an ankle injury and did not play in a preseason game. The Browns suspended him for two weeks, saying he didn't follow team rules. They disagreed about how serious his injury was. Williams got a second opinion from a doctor who said he needed surgery for bone spurs in his ankle. On August 29, 2016, the Browns released Williams from the team.

Brief Time with the Chicago Bears

On August 30, 2016, the Chicago Bears tried to sign Williams. However, the contract was canceled because Williams did not pass his physical exam due to his ankle injury. On November 3, 2016, Williams had surgery on his ankle. He was expected to recover in about 12 weeks.

After his surgery, several teams, including the Jets, Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, and 49ers, offered him contracts.

Playing for the San Francisco 49ers

On February 21, 2017, the San Francisco 49ers signed Williams to a one-year contract. He was happy to reunite with Jeff Hafley, who was now the 49ers' defensive backs coach. Hafley had coached Williams with the Cleveland Browns and at Pitt.

Williams competed for the starting nickelback position during training camp. The head coach, Kyle Shanahan, named him the main nickelback for the regular season.

On September 29, 2017, the 49ers signed Williams to a new three-year contract. On October 1, 2017, he made a season-high eight tackles against the Arizona Cardinals. He missed two games because of a quadriceps injury. On December 24, 2017, Williams had five tackles, blocked two passes, and made his first career interception. An interception is when a defensive player catches a pass meant for an offensive player. He caught a pass from quarterback Blake Bortles and ran it back 27 yards.

He finished the 2017 season with a career-high 54 tackles, five pass deflections, two forced fumbles, one interception, and one sack. Experts at Pro Football Focus gave him a high rating, ranking him among the top cornerbacks that year.

In October 2020, Williams was placed on the injured reserve list due to a knee injury but was activated later that month. He re-signed with the 49ers on March 26, 2021.

Time with the Denver Broncos

On March 23, 2022, Williams signed a two-year contract with the Denver Broncos. In November, it was announced that he would have surgery on his knee to remove scar tissue from a previous injury. This surgery was expected to keep him out for about four weeks.

On August 31, 2023, Williams was placed on injured reserve again, which meant he missed the entire 2023 season. After that season, the Broncos decided not to re-sign him. On January 14, 2025, Williams' agent announced that he planned to retire from the NFL.

Career Statistics