Kevin Williams

Games and Starts

(regular season, playoffs) 2003 (16/16), 2004 (16/16, 2/2), 2005 (14/14), 2006 (16/16). Totals- 62/62, 2/2.

Professional Biography

In his opening 4 seasons in the NFL he has established himself as one of the most productive and dominant interior linemen and as a keystone of the Vikings defense…Has posted 31.0 sacks in his 4 years with the Vikings…Twice named a 1st-Team Associated Press All-Pro in 2006 and 2004, leading all DTs in the voting in 2004…Named an NFC starter in the Pro Bowl following the 2006 and 2004 seasons…Joined fellow Vikings DT Pat Williams in the Pro Bowl for the 2006 season, the 1st time the Vikings sent a pair of DTs to the game since 1970 when Alan Page and Gary Larsen were honored…Led NFL DTs in sacks in 2004, notching team-high 11.5…Finished impact rookie season by being a consensus All-Rookie honoree…Became only the second Vikings rookie defender to start all 16 games, joining CB Dewayne Washington…Led the Vikings with 10.5 sacks, ranking behind only Baltimore’s Terrell Suggs among rookies…Consensus All-Rookie honoree…Selected with the 9th overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft...Vikings’ highest draft choice on defense since Chris Doleman was selected with the #4 pick in 1985…Was the 3rd defensive lineman drafted in 2003.

 

NFL History

• SELECTED TO 2007 ASSOCIATED PRESS ALL-PRO 1^ST-TEAM, HIS 2^ND STRAIGHT SEASON ON THE 1^ST TEAM AND HIS 3^RD OVERALL SELECTION TO THE PRESTIGIOUS SQUAD.
• EARNED 3^RD TRIP TO PRO BOWL IN 2007, JOINING FELLOW DT PAT WILLIAMS AS THE NFC’S STARTING DTs IN THE ALL-STAR GAME.
• Key element to the Vikings ranking #1 in the NFL against the run in 2006 and 2007.
• Has missed only 2 games in his 5-year NFL career, playing and starting 78 contests.
• Only Alan Page (9) and John Randle (8) have more Pro Bowl appearances by a DT in team history.
• Has scored on a 54-yard INT return, an 18-yard INT return, a 77-yard FR and a 0-yard FR in his career.
• Has 13 career takeaways- 9 FRs and 4 INTs.
• Scored 4^th career TD @ San Francisco (12/9) when he returned a Trent Dilfer INT 18 yards for a score. The TD happened with :14 seconds expired in the game, the 2^nd-fastest score in Vikings history.
• Set a Vikings record for defensive linemen with his 4^th career INT @ San Francisco (12/9).
• Tied a Vikings record with his 4^th career defensive TD (2 INTs, 2 FRs).
• Sacked Jon Kitna vs. Detroit (12/2) for his 3^rd sack of the 2007 season.
• Notched a sack of QB Tony Romo @ Dallas (10/21) and recovered a fumble after a Kenechi Udeze sack.
• Forced a fumble that Ray Edwards returned 9 yards for a TD @ Detroit (9/16).  
• Named to Associated Press 1^st-Team All-Pro squad in 2006, his 2^nd time on the team.
• Joins DEs Kenechi Udeze and Erasmus James as 1^st-rounders on the Vikings defensive line.
• Posted the 3^rd-longest fumble return in team history when he scooped up a fumble forced by teammate Kenechi Udeze and rambled 77 yards for a TD vs. Jacksonville (11/28/03)
• Consensus All-Rookie honoree in 2003.
• Tied Vikings record by starting all 16 games as a rookie and only the 2^nd defensive player in team history to accomplish the feat, joining Dewayne Washington in 1994.
• Only Keith Millard had more sacks a rookie (11.0 in 1985) than Williams’ 10.5 in 2003.
• Set a Vikings rookie single-game record with 3.0 sacks in 2003 finale at Arizona.
• Was the highest-drafted defensive lineman by the Vikings since Chris Doleman was taken #4 overall in 1985.
• Wife, Tasha, ended her collegiate basketball career at Louisiana Tech in 2006 by helping the Lady Techsters to the NCAA Tournament.

 

College Information

Was a mainstay on the Cowboys’ defensive front, starting 42 games...All-Big 121st-team pick by the league’s coaches and the Associated Press as a senior…Earned Big 12 Player of the Week honors for his performance vs. Nebraska…Started 10 of 11 games as a junior with 9 starts at DT and 1 at DE…Named 3rd-team Freshman-All American selection by The Sporting News in 1999…All-Big 12 3rd-team selection by the league’s  coaches and started all 11 games as a redshirt freshman...Redshirted as a true freshman in 1998.

2002 All-Big 12 first-team pick by the league's coaches and the Associated Press...Started all 13 games at right defensive tackle...Posted 61 tackles and tied for the team lead with 7 sacks...Led the team with 14 tackles for loss...Added 2 passes defensed and 2 QB hurries...Recorded 7 tackles vs. UCLA...Posted 10 tackles at Texas...Earned Big 12 Player of the Week honors for his performance vs. Nebraska when he had 10 tackles, a sack, and a tackle for loss...Recorded 3 tackles and a sack at Kansas...Earned Defensive MVP honors after registering 7 tackles, 3 sacks, 4 tackles for loss, and a pass defensed vs. Southern Mississippi in the Houston Bowl.

2001 Started 10 of 11 games on the season with 9 starts at DT and 1 at DE...Recorded 36 tackles, 2 sacks, and 7 tackles for loss on the year...Posted 5 tackles and a sack at Southern Mississippi...Had 2 tackles and a sack vs. Louisiana Tech...Recorded 3 tackles and a sack at Texas A&M...Registered 8 tackles and 3 tackles for loss at Iowa State...Posted 6 tackles and a sack at Baylor...Recorded 5 tackles, 1 sack, and a tackle for loss at Oklahoma.

2000 Played in 11 games with 8 starts...Started 4 games at DT and 4 contests at DE...Recorded 35 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 6 passes defensed, and a fumble recovery on the year...Posted 5 tackles and 2 tackles for loss vs. Southwest Texas State...Had a sack vs. Southern Mississippi...Registered 4 tackles and a sack at Missouri...Made a season-high 6 tackles and added a sack and 3 tackles for loss at Colorado.

1999 3rd-team Freshman-All American selection by The Sporting News...All-Big 12 third-team selection by the league's coaches...Started all 11 games at DE and recorded 28 tackles, 2 sacks, and 6 tackles for loss...Added 2 passes defensed and a pair of fumble recoveries.

1998 Redshirted as a freshman.

Personal Biography

Married in June 2005 to Tasha…Tasha ended her collegiate basketball career in2006 as a senior at Louisiana Tech, helped the Lady Techsters to the NCAA Tournament and earned all-conference honors…Majored in general studies and earned his degree in the spring of 2003…Active in the Twin Cities community through the Vikings/United Way Hometown Huddle ARC-Hennepin County Clothing Drive, supports the Minnesota National Guard and the Vikings and Friends Holiday  Party for the Salvation Army...Shares the same hometown as legendary football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant...Enjoys the outdoors and is an avid fisherman and hunter...Current position coach, Karl Dunbar, was his collegiate position coach.