Roosevelt Williams (American football) facts for kids

Roosevelt Williams, Jr. (born September 10, 1978) is a former American football player. He played as a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He was chosen by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 2002 NFL draft. He was the 72nd player picked overall. Roosevelt first got a scholarship to Florida State University. However, he went to Tuskegee University instead because he didn't meet the academic requirements at Florida State.

Early Life

Roosevelt grew up in a challenging neighborhood on the East side of Jacksonville, Florida. He and current NFL running back Leon Washington were neighbors there. Roosevelt chose to attend Terry Parker High School, which was about 15 miles from his home. He felt this change would help him stay focused and avoid trouble.

At Terry Parker High School, he was a talented athlete. He earned letters in football, basketball, and track. His oldest son, Deontai Williams, also played football. Deontai played for Nebraska and was part of the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL. He is currently with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Canadian Football League (CFL).

College Career

Williams first attended Savannah State University. Later, he transferred to Tuskegee University. At Tuskegee, many experts thought he was one of the top five cornerbacks in the country. This was before the 2002 NFL draft.

He was invited to important events like the NFL Combine and the Senior Bowl. He participated in both and was even a starter in the Senior Bowl All-Star Game. Many considered him the best college defender in Alabama in 2002. During his time at Tuskegee, he is seen as the best cover Cornerback to ever play for the team.

Roosevelt's success in being drafted from a smaller college helped other players. These include Drayton Florence, Frank Walker, Dimitri Patterson, and Harry Williams. They were all drafted in the years after him. Williams was named All-American and first-team Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) all four years he played. He played at two historically black universities: Tuskegee University and Savannah State University.

Professional Career

Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears picked Williams in the third round of the 2002 NFL draft. They got this draft pick from the Dallas Cowboys. Roosevelt had a persistent ankle injury during training camp. Because of this, he played in only 7 games in his first season. He started in three of those games.

In one game, a wild play happened against the Green Bay Packers. Packers quarterback Brett Favre threw a long pass at the end of the first half. Bears player Damon Moore caught it but fumbled the ball. A Packers player, Mike Wahle, then fumbled it again. Williams picked up the ball. However, a Packers rookie, Javon Walker, tackled him before he could score. This exciting play was talked about a lot in the news and on sports shows.

In Week 14, Williams made his first start against the New York Jets. He played a great game. His performance helped stop the Jets from making it to the 2002 playoffs.

Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos picked up Williams after he was let go by the Bears. The Broncos needed space for Williams on their team. So, they let go of their third-string quarterback. In Week 3, against the San Diego Chargers, the Broncos' starting quarterback, Jake Plummer, hurt his shoulder. After this, Williams was let go to make room for another quarterback. A few days later, the Cleveland Browns picked him up.

Cleveland Browns

Williams played in 12 games for the Cleveland Browns. He started in 3 of those games. With the Browns, Williams was part of a defense that was very good. They were ranked third in stopping passes and tenth overall in defense. In Week 13, the Browns played the Denver Broncos. This game was considered the game of the week and went into overtime. Williams had a strong game, making 8 tackles and breaking up a couple of passes.

Coaching Career

In 2019, Roosevelt Williams became the head football coach at ASA College in Hialeah, Florida. He has continued his coaching career, working with various college teams. He has coached defensive backs and been a defensive coordinator. Currently, he is the Cornerbacks Coach for the Houston Christian Huskies.