Tyrone Williams (wide receiver) facts for kids

Tyrone Robert Williams (born March 26, 1970) is a Canadian former professional football player. He played as a wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League (NFL). He also played for the Calgary Stampeders and Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Tyrone is famous for being the first player ever to win three major football championships: a Vanier Cup, a Super Bowl, and a Grey Cup. He played university football at the University of Western Ontario.

Early Years in Sports

Tyrone Williams went to Queen Elizabeth High School (Halifax, Nova Scotia). There, he was a star in many sports. He played competitive football, soccer, and basketball. In football, he was chosen as an All-star player. He was great at both quarterback and wide receiver. When he was a senior, he was also an All-star in basketball.

University Football Career

In 1988, Tyrone was recruited by the University of Western Ontario football coach, Larry Haylor. He quickly made a big impact with the Western Mustangs team. In his first year, he set a team record for receiving yards per catch. He was also named a second-team all-star in the Ontario Universities Athletic Association (OUAA).

In 1989, Tyrone was again an OUAA all-star. That year, the Mustangs won their fifth Vanier Cup title. The Vanier Cup is like the championship game for university football in Canada. In that game, Tyrone caught five passes for 157 yards and scored a touchdown. He won the Ted Morris Memorial Trophy as the game's best player. Western beat the Saskatchewan Huskies 35–10 to win the championship.

Tyrone earned "All-Canadian" honors in 1990 and 1991. This means he was recognized as one of the best university players in all of Canada. He finished his studies at Western with a degree in economics. He also set school records for most catches and most receiving yards. These records stood for almost 20 years!

After his final season at Western, American scouts noticed Tyrone. He was invited to play in the Senior Bowl in Alabama. This was a huge deal because he was the first Canadian university player to get this invitation. The Senior Bowl is a showcase for top US college football players. In the game, Tyrone caught a 36-yard touchdown pass. It was the only offensive touchdown of the game!

Playing in the NFL

Starting with the Phoenix Cardinals

In February 1992, the Calgary Stampeders picked Tyrone seventh overall in the CFL draft. But Tyrone decided to wait for the NFL draft in April. The Phoenix Cardinals chose him in the ninth round of the 1992 NFL draft. He was the first Canadian university player picked in the NFL draft since 1986.

Tyrone's NFL career did not start easily. In 1992, he missed the first two weeks of the Cardinals' training camp. This was because his work visa did not arrive in time. He fell behind other players and was released by the team on September 1.

Time with the Dallas Cowboys

On September 2, 1992, the Dallas Cowboys signed Tyrone to their practice squad. A practice squad is a group of players who train with the team but usually don't play in games. Even though he didn't play, he earned his first Super Bowl ring. He watched from the sidelines as the Cowboys won Super Bowl XXVII.

In 1993, Tyrone had a great moment in a preseason game. He caught 5 passes for 157 yards, including a 53-yard touchdown. This helped the Cowboys tie the Detroit Lions in a game played in London, England. During the 1993 regular season, he played in 5 games. He caught one pass for 25 yards. The Cowboys made it to Super Bowl XXVIII. Tyrone was on the inactive list for this game, meaning he didn't play. But he still earned a second Super Bowl ring as the Cowboys won again!

On July 11, 1994, Tyrone left the Cowboys. The Chicago Bears picked him up, but he was released again during their final team cuts. After not playing in 1994, he joined the Buffalo Bills training camp in 1995. He was released again and decided to go back to Canada to play.

Playing in the CFL

Calgary Stampeders

On September 12, 1995, Tyrone signed with the Calgary Stampeders. He joined his former university teammate, Dave Sapunjis. Tyrone caught six passes for 81 yards and one touchdown in seven games. The team almost won the CFL championship that year. Tyrone caught one pass in their 37–20 loss in the 83rd Grey Cup.

Toronto Argonauts

On May 23, 1996, Tyrone joined the Toronto Argonauts. This was his best professional season. He played a full schedule and caught passes for almost 900 yards. With star quarterback Doug Flutie, the Argonauts had a great record of 15 wins and 3 losses. They won the 84th Grey Cup against the Edmonton Eskimos 43–37. With this victory, Tyrone Williams made history. He became the first player to win the Vanier Cup, the Super Bowl, and the Grey Cup!

Retirement

On March 11, 1997, the Miami Dolphins in the NFL signed Tyrone to a two-year contract. However, he decided to retire from football in May of that year. He was only 27 years old. He never gave a public reason for his decision to stop playing.

Career Statistics

Personal Life

In 2004, Tyrone Williams was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame. This was to recognize his amazing achievements as an athlete. His uncle is Tommy Kane, who also played wide receiver in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks. Today, Tyrone works as a substitute teacher in Halifax, Nova Scotia.