Mario Williams facts for kids
Williams with the Houston Texans in 2006
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| No. 90, 94 | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Defensive end | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | January 31, 1985 Richlands, North Carolina, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 300 lb (136 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Richlands | ||||||||||||
| College: | NC State (2003–2005) | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2006 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
Mario Jerrel Williams (born January 31, 1985) is a former American football player. He was a powerful defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). Mario played college football for the NC State Wolfpack. He was chosen as the very first player in the 2006 NFL draft by the Houston Texans. He was picked for the Pro Bowl four times. He also played for the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins.
Contents
Early Life and High School Football
Mario Williams grew up in Richlands, North Carolina. He went to Richlands High School. He was a great athlete in both football and track.
High School Football Achievements
In his senior year, Mario made 87 tackles and 13 sacks. He also caused five fumbles and blocked five kicks. He even played running back that year due to injuries on his team. He ran for 590 yards and scored three touchdowns. As a junior, he had over 100 tackles. He was chosen for the 2002 North Carolina Shrine Bowl team. There, he got four sacks. He was also named an All-State player by the Associated Press in 2002. His high school jersey number (82) was retired, meaning no one else could wear it.
Track and Field Success
Mario also competed in track & field. He was good at the shot put, throwing it over 52 feet. Experts ranked him as one of the best defensive ends in the country.
College Football Career
Mario Williams went to North Carolina State University. He played for the NC State Wolfpack from 2003 to 2005. In just three seasons, he set a new school record for the most sacks. This record stood until 2017.
Professional Football Journey
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand size | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
295 lb (134 kg) |
34+1⁄8 in (0.87 m) |
10+1⁄4 in (0.26 m) |
4.71 s | 1.59 s | 2.75 s | 4.36 s | 7.19 s | 40.5 in (1.03 m) |
10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) |
35 reps | |
| All values from NFL Combine | ||||||||||||
Playing for the Houston Texans
Many people thought the Houston Texans would pick another player first in the 2006 NFL draft. But they surprised everyone by choosing Mario Williams. They signed him to a big six-year contract.
First Seasons with the Texans
On October 1, 2006, Mario got his first sacks against the Miami Dolphins. This helped the Texans win their first game of the season. Later, he sacked the Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback and recovered a fumble. In his first year (2006), Mario started all 16 games. He had 47 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
In 2007, Mario played even better. He had a great game against the Kansas City Chiefs. He made five tackles, two sacks, and even scored a touchdown after picking up a fumble. He also had many sacks against the Denver Broncos and Tennessee Titans. He finished the 2007 season with 59 tackles and 14 sacks. Many experts said he was one of the best defensive players. He was chosen as an alternate for the Pro Bowl game.
Later Years and Injuries
In 2008, Mario had 12 sacks and 53 tackles. He was chosen for his first Pro Bowl as a starter. He was also named a first-team All-Pro player for the second year in a row. He went to the Pro Bowl again after the 2009 season.
In 2010, Mario had an inflamed hernia and was placed on injured reserve. This meant he couldn't play for the rest of the season. In 2011, he tore a muscle in his chest while sacking a quarterback. This injury also ended his season early. After the 2011 season, his contract with the Texans ended. He became a free agent, meaning he could sign with any team.
Time with the Buffalo Bills
On March 15, 2012, Mario Williams signed a huge six-year contract with the Buffalo Bills. It was one of the biggest contracts ever for a defensive player at that time. He wore number 94 for the Bills.
Key Moments with the Bills
In 2012, Mario played in all 16 games. He had 46 tackles and 10.5 sacks. He had a great game against the Colts, getting 3 sacks. In 2013, he had 4.5 sacks in one game against the Carolina Panthers. This set a new record for the Bills for most sacks in a single game. He finished that season with 13 sacks. In 2014, he had 14.5 sacks. He was named to the All-Pro First-team and the 2015 Pro Bowl.
Leaving the Bills
In his last season with the Bills (2015), Mario was not happy with the team's new coach and defense strategy. His performance dropped, and he had only 5 sacks. On March 1, 2016, the Bills released him from his contract.
Playing for the Miami Dolphins
On March 8, 2016, the Miami Dolphins signed Mario Williams to a two-year contract. He played only one season with the Dolphins. He had 1.5 sacks that year. On February 16, 2017, the Dolphins released him.
NFL Career Statistics
| Year | Team | GP | Tackles | Fumbles | PD | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | FF | FR | Yds | TD | |||||||
| 2006 | HOU | 16 | 47 | 35 | 12 | 4.5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |||
| 2007 | HOU | 16 | 59 | 43 | 16 | 14.0 | 2 | 1 | 38 | 1 | 1 | |||
| 2008 | HOU | 16 | 53 | 44 | 9 | 12.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2009 | HOU | 16 | 43 | 38 | 5 | 9.0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |||
| 2010 | HOU | 13 | 28 | 22 | 6 | 8.5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |||
| 2011 | HOU | 5 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 5.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||
| 2012 | BUF | 16 | 46 | 37 | 9 | 10.5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |||
| 2013 | BUF | 16 | 38 | 28 | 10 | 13.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |||
| 2014 | BUF | 16 | 42 | 36 | 6 | 14.5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |||
| 2015 | BUF | 15 | 19 | 15 | 4 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2016 | MIA | 13 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||
| Total | 158 | 399 | 317 | 82 | 97.5 | 16 | 5 | 38 | 1 | 21 | ||||
| Source: ESPN.com | ||||||||||||||
Mario Williams' Life Off the Field
Mario Williams is known for his interests and generosity outside of football.
Hobbies and Donations
In 2010, Mario, who loves boating, had a special design made for his MasterCraft X80 boat. He worked with a designer to create a unique look for it. Mario also showed his generosity by donating cars to police departments. In 2011, he gave five Chevrolet Camaros to the Houston Police Department. In 2013, he donated five Dodge Chargers.
"MariO's" Cereal
In 2012, Mario launched his own breakfast cereal called "MariO's." It was a honey-toasted oats cereal. The money made from selling "MariO's" was given to a charity in Buffalo. This charity helps children with cancer and their families.
Nickname
Sometimes, people on social media and sports websites called Mario Williams "Wario Williams." This nickname came from the popular Nintendo character Wario. Wario is known for being strong and determined, much like Mario Williams on the football field.
See also
In Spanish: Mario Williams para niños
- List of North Carolina State University people
