Reggie Williams (linebacker) facts for kids

Reggie Williams (born September 19, 1954) is a former American football linebacker. He played for the Cincinnati Bengals in the National Football League (NFL). Reggie is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. He also served on the Cincinnati City Council for a few years.

Early Life and College

Reggie Williams was born on September 19, 1954, in Flint, Michigan. As a child, he overcame a hearing disability. He became a star athlete and student at Flint Southwestern High School. There, he played football and also wrestled. He played linebacker as a junior and then switched to fullback in his senior year.

Reggie earned an academic scholarship to Dartmouth College. He was a three-time All-Ivy League linebacker in football. In 1975, he also became the Ivy League heavyweight wrestling champion. He graduated in 1976 with a degree in psychology.

Professional Football 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 with the team, he played in two Super Bowls: Super Bowl XVI in 1981 and Super Bowl XXIII in 1988.

Reggie set a team record with 23 fumble recoveries. He also had 16 interceptions. He recorded 62.5 sacks, which is the second-highest in Bengals history. While still playing for the Bengals, he joined the Cincinnati City Council in 1988. He was elected for a second term in 1989.

Reggie Williams received many awards during his career. He was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team in 1976. He also won the Byron "Whizzer" White Award for Humanitarian Service in 1985. In 1986, he received the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. Sports Illustrated named him Co-Sportsman of the Year in 1987.

Life After the NFL

After retiring from the NFL, Reggie Williams worked for the World League of American Football. He was the Vice President and General Manager for the New York/New Jersey Knights. Later, he returned to the NFL. He helped create the NFL's first Youth Education Town (YET) in Los Angeles. These centers help young people with education.

In 1993, Reggie joined Disney as the director of sports development. He helped create Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. This huge sports facility opened in 1997. It hosts many athletic events each year. By 1998, he became Vice President of Disney Sports Attractions. He oversaw various sports and recreation areas at Walt Disney World. Reggie retired from Disney in 2007. He wanted to focus on healing his legs from injuries he got during his football career.

Reggie had many knee surgeries after his career ended. He had 24 knee surgeries in total. This included knee replacements and dealing with infections. In 2008, he had eight surgeries in five months for a bone infection. His right leg is now shorter than his left.

In December 2007, Reggie Williams was chosen for the College Football Hall of Fame. He received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Dartmouth College in 1990. He is also a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. Reggie Williams now lives in Sarasota, Florida.

Reggie is the author of a book called Resilient by Nature. It was released in September 2020.