Reggie Williams (linebacker) facts for kids

Reginald Williams (born September 19, 1954) is a former American football player. He was a talented linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals in the National Football League (NFL). Reggie Williams is recognized for his amazing career and community work. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. He also served on the Cincinnati City Council, helping his community.

Reggie Williams' Early Life

Reggie Williams was born on September 19, 1954, in Flint, Michigan. As a child, he faced a hearing challenge but worked hard to overcome it. Reggie was a top student and athlete at Flint Southwestern High School. He played both football and wrestled. In his junior year, he played linebacker. He switched to fullback during his senior year.

Reggie earned an academic scholarship to Dartmouth College. There, he became a three-time All-Ivy League linebacker in football. He was also the Ivy League heavyweight wrestling champion in 1975. He graduated in 1976 with a degree in psychology. He even took classes in tai chi and ballet!

Reggie Williams' NFL Career

In 1976, the Cincinnati Bengals picked Reggie Williams in the third round of the NFL draft. He played for the Bengals for 14 seasons. During his time, he helped his team reach two Super Bowls: Super Bowl XVI in 1981 and Super Bowl XXIII in 1988.

Reggie set impressive team records during his career. He had 16 interceptions and 23 fumble recoveries, which is still a team record. He also made 62.5 sacks, the second most in Bengals history. While still playing, he also served on the Cincinnati City Council. This showed his dedication to helping his community.

Reggie received many important awards for his play and his community work. He was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team in 1976. In 1985, he won the Byron "Whizzer" White Award for Humanitarian Service. This award recognizes players who do great work off the field. In 1986, he received the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. This is one of the NFL's highest honors for community service. Sports Illustrated also named him Co-Sportsman of the Year in 1987.

Reggie Williams' Life After Football

After retiring from the NFL, Reggie continued to work in sports. He became the Vice President and General Manager for the New York/New Jersey Knights in the World League of American Football. He later returned to the NFL. There, he helped create the NFL's first Youth Education Town (YET) in Los Angeles. YETs are places where young people can get an education and learn life skills.

In 1993, Reggie joined Disney as the director of sports development. He helped create Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. This huge, modern sports facility opened in 1997. It hosts over 180 athletic events each year in about 30 different sports. By 1998, he was Vice President of Disney Sports Attractions. He oversaw all of Disney's sports and recreation areas. Reggie retired from Disney in 2007. He left to focus on healing his legs from injuries he got during his football career.

Reggie played most of his career with a bad right knee. He has had 24 knee surgeries since his career ended. This shows how tough and resilient he is. In 2007, Reggie was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame. Dartmouth College also gave him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1990. He is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. Today, Reggie Williams lives in Sarasota, Florida.

Reggie is also an author. He wrote a book called Resilient by Nature, which came out in 2020. In his book, he shares his life story and how he overcame challenges.