Quency Williams

Williams was born on April 10, 1961, in Douglasville, Georgia, and grew up there.[1] He attended Douglas County High School, graduating in 1980. He committed to Auburn University and saw immediate playing time as a freshman on the football team.[2] He played in every year of his at the school, and as a senior helped Auburn to the second-best run defense in the conference.[3]

His brother Gregg Williams played college football for rival Georgia.[4]

Williams was selected in the 1984 USFL Territorial Draft by the Birmingham Stallions, but was one of the team's final roster cuts.[5]

In 1984,[6] Williams was noticed by scouts of the Los Angeles Raiders, who gave him a tryout.[5] His tryout was successful and he was given a contract, but he was soon after placed on injured reserve and did not make the final roster the following year in 1985.[5][6][7]

Williams was later contacted by the Arizona Outlaws in the USFL, the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL, and by two teams from the Canadian Football League (CFL).[5] He accepted an offer from Arizona, but the season was canceled before he got a chance to play.[5]

In May 1987, Williams was signed by the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL.[8] His position was changed from defensive end to outside linebacker, but was later changed back.[9] He made the final roster and played in a total of ten games in his first year, as Calgary compiled a record of 10–8.[10] Williams returned to the Stampeders in 1988, playing in all eighteen games and making nine quarterback sacks and 59 tackles.[1] He was named the team's most valuable player by Canadian Airlines International and was awarded a trip to West Germany.[11]

After the 1988 season ended, Williams tried out for the United States Bobsled Team.[12][13]

In May 1989, Williams was traded to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for future considerations.[14] He changed his position to linebacker near the beginning of the season.[15] He made the final roster and appeared in seventeen games, making 65 tackles and eight sacks.[1] Williams returned to the defensive end position in 1990.[1] That year, he played in fifteen games, making six sacks and 46 tackles as the Blue Bombers went on to win the 78th Grey Cup.[16] In 1991, he played in just seven games, recording two sacks and 15 tackles.[1] In 1992, he played in just one game before being released.[17]

Shortly after being released by Winnipeg, Williams was signed by the BC Lions.[18] He was released by the Lions on September 7, without appearing in a game.[1][19] He finished his CFL career with 68 games played, 221 tackles, 30.0 sacks and two fumble recoveries.[1]

Williams was later a tow truck operator near Winnipeg.[20][21] In 2002, he helped save the life of a man who had crashed his van into a Manitoba river.[20]

Williams died of a heart attack in April 2022, shortly after his 61st birthday.[21][22]