170games/127starts
Joined fellow VIkings DT Kevin Williams and DE Jared Allen in the Pro Bowl after the 2008 season, the 1st time since 1969 a trio of Vikings linemen went to the Pro Bowl...Earned 1st career Pro Bowl honors in 2006 and followed up in 2007 and 2008 with Pro Bowl berths...Named to Associated Press 2nd-Team All-Pro squad in 2007…Key element in the Vikings’ #1-ranked NFL rush defense in 2006, 2007 and 2008, the 1st time since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger a team has led the NFL in rushing defense for 3 straight seasons…Entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent and did not start a game until his 4th NFL season, but has been a full-time starter since the 2001 season, starting the past 123 games he has played...Has played in 179 games during his 13-year career, 127 of which he started...Helped the Vikings’ defense hold opponents to 985 rushing yards in 2006, a team record and the 2nd-lowest total in the NFL since the 1970 merger…Has scored 2 career defensive TDs, a fumble return and an interception return…Signed by Vikings on 3/3/05, the 1st signing for the team in 2005 free agency and a priority signing…Was a teammate of CB Antoine Winfield in Buffalo when the Bills ranked among the NFL leaders, ranking #1 in 1999 and #3 in 2000…Had career-best 108 tackles in 2002, ranking 2nd on team behind LB London Fletcher…Intercepted 1st career pass and returned it 20 yards for a TD, picking off A.J. Feeley at Miami (12/5/04), sealing the win for Buffalo 42-32, breaking open a 3-point game with 1:55 left to play…Named to USA Today’s All-Joe Team in 2000, recognizing the NFL’s “overlooked, ignored and hard-working” players.
2008 Tabbed for 3rd straight Pro Bowl berth, joining fellow Vikings DT Kevin Williams in the game, making them the only Vikings DT duo to earn trips to the game game 3 times...Along with DE Jared Allen, the Vikings sent trio of defensive linemen to the Pro Bowl for the 1st time since 1969...Key part of #1-ranked NFL rush defense for the 3rd straight season...Helped Vikings rank #6 in total defense, the highest rank since the 1994 season...Part of Vikings defense that did not allow a 100-yard rusher in a game throughout the season...Notched lone sack of season at Jacksonville (11/23)...Sidelined for final 2 regular season games and Wild Card Playoffs with shoulder injury.
2007 Earned starting job in Pro Bowl, his 2nd straight season being selected to the all-star game...Tabbed as an Associated Press 2nd-Team All-Pro…Keyed the Vikings defensive effort that ranked #1 in the NFL against the run for the 2nd straight year…Led Vikings defensive linemen with 78 tackles and ranked 6th on team…Helped Vikings rank 3rd in the NFL by allowing only 7 rushing TDs on the season…Held opponents to an average of 74.1 rushing yards per game and limited some of the NFL top talents during their games- holding Chargers All-Pro and 2007 NFL rushing champion LaDainian Tomlinson to 40 yards, Philadelphia All-Pro Brian Westbrook to 46 yards and Kansas City star Larry Johnson to 42 yards…Notched a sack at Detroit (9/16) when he caught J.T. O’Sullivan and at San Francisco (12/9) when he snared Shaun Hill, forcing and recovering a fumble on Hill…Posted a pair of fumble recoveries, matching his career-best 2 he had in 2000.2006 Started all 16 games for the 5th straight season, moving his consecutive start total to 93 games…Earned Pro Bowl honors for his performance...Named to Dr. Z’s All-Pro team in Sports Illustrated…Was a key part in the Vikings ranking #1 in the NFL against the run and #8 in total defense, the first time since 1994 the team ranked in the NFL’s top 10 in total defense…Helped the Vikings defense hold opponents to 985 rushing yards on the season, a team record and the 2nd-lowest total in the NFL since the 1970 merger…Helped limit Detroit (12/10) to -3 rushing yards for the game…Forced Arizona (11/26) to only 6 rushes in the game, matching an NFL record for fewest attempts…Helped the Vikings’ run defense shut down the Packers’ rushing game vs. Green Bay (11/12), limiting the team to 47 rushing yards…Ended the day with season-best 12 tackles, 9 solo, and 4 tackles for a loss…Had a pair of tackles, a TFL, a QB hurry and a pass defensed at San Francisco (11/5)…Sacked Jon Kitna, his 1st of the season, and forced a fumble that was recovered by Vikings’ LB Ben Leber for a TD vs. Detroit (10/8)…Started at Buffalo (10/1) and ended the game with 7 tackles, a QB hurry and a pass defensed…Started vs. Chicago (9/24) and helped limit the Bears’ rushing attack to 51 yards...Finished the game with 3 tackles, 2 QB hurries and a pass defensed.2005 Made his considerable presence felt quickly with the Vikings as he anchored the defensive line at NT...Earned votes in the Associated Press All-Pro balloting and was named to Dr. Z’s All-Pro team in Sports Illustrated…Started all 16 games for the 4th straight season in his career…Led Vikings linemen with 88 tackles and led the team with 9 tackles for loss...Had double-digit tackles in 3 games on the season…Posted 5 tackles and a sack on Brian Griese in his Vikings debut vs. Tampa Bay (9/11)…Recorded 10 tackles and 2 QB hurries at Cincinnati (9/18)…Registered 6 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and 1 forced fumble at Chicago (10/16)…Had 6 tackles, a tackle for loss, and 0.5 sack of the Giants’ Eli Manning (11/13)…Posted 10 tackles and 2 tackles for loss vs. Cleveland (11/27).2004 Started all 16 games for the 3rd straight season... Scored 2nd career TD on 1st career INT return when he took an A.J. Feeley pass 20 yards for a score at Miami (12/5)…Key element of the Bills #2 ranked defense in the NFL…Helped lead the Bills to the 3rd-highest sack total in the NFL with 45…Played under 1st-year Bills head coach Mike Mularkey, a former Vikings TE from 1983- 88…Following an 0-4 start, the Bills rebounded to win 9 oftheir final 12 games…Posted 2.5 sacks on the season, his highest output since 2000…Had season-high 7 tackles vs. Pittsburgh (1/2/05) and notched a sack…Sacked Rich Gannon at Oakland (9/19) and had 4 tackles…Shared a sack of Jay Fiedler vs. Miami (10/17).2003 Ranked 5th on team with 90 tackles, the 2nd-highest total of his career…Selected as an alternate to the Pro Bowl…Scored 1st career TD when he scooped up a Billy Volek fumble and returned it 28 yards for a TD at Tennessee (12/14)…Had season-best 10 tackles at New England (12/27).2002 Notched career-best 108 tackles and started all 16 games for the 1st time in his career…Ranked 2nd on team in tackles behind only LB London Fletcher…Selected as Pro Bowl alternate…Notched career-best 12 tackles vs. Chicago (9/29) and held the Bears to 52 team yards rushing… Shared a sack of Daunte Culpepper at Minnesota (9/15) with Aaron Schobel that forced a fumble which was recovered for a TD…Recovered a fumble at Miami (10/20) that was turned into a Buffalo FG.2001 Started 13 games before suffering leg injury that sidelined him for final 3 games…Led Buffalo linemen with 74 tackles…Entering the final 4 games of the season, he was tied with CB Antoine Winfield for the Bills lead in tackles… Recorded 9 tackles and shared a sack with Shawn Price on Kordell Stewart vs. Pittsburgh (9/30)…Led the team with 8 tackles and added his 1st full sack of the season at Jacksonville (10/18).2000 Enjoyed breakout season when he played in all 16 games and started 4…Was selected to the USA Today’s “All-Joe Team” that recognizes “overlooked, ignored, and hard-working” players…Made an impact in season opening win when he had 8 tackles, forced a fumble and sacked Titans QB Steve McNair vs. Tennessee (9/3)…Sacked Packers QB Brett Favre the following week and vs. Green Bay (9/10)…In his 1st NFL start he tied his career-high at the time with 8 tackles at NY Jets (9/17)…Had 1st career fumble recovery vs. San Diego (10/15)…Recovered a fumble and blocked a FG attempt at Kansas City (11/19)…Teamed up for a half sack of Dolphins QB Jay Fiedler vs. Miami (12/3).1999 Played in all 16 games for the 1st time in his career…Had 3 tackles, a sack and forced fumble on QB Brad Johnson at Washington (11/7)…Notched 4 tackles and a sack on Drew Bledsoe at New England (12/26)…Made 2nd career playoff appearance in Wild Card Game at Tennessee (1/8/00).1998 Played big role in 14 regular season games and in the Wild Card game at Miami (1/2/99)…Was credited with his 1st sack when he shared a sack on Mark Brunell vs. Jacksonville (10/18)…Had a career day at Cincinnati (12/6) with 7 tackles and sacked Neil O’Donnell 3 times in the 4th quarter…Became the 7th Bills player with 3.0 sacks in a game, 1 shy of the team record…Had 3 tackles in 1st career playoff game at Miami (1/2/99).1997 Signed with the Bills as a rookie free agent and made the team after an impressive preseason…Spent all 16 games of the season on the 53-man roster…Was deactivated for every game except NFL debut on the kickoff return team vs. Denver (10/26).
Started 8 games and appeared in 11 as a senior at A&M...Earned 2nd-team All-SWAC as a junior in 1995 in only 6 starts...Transferred to A&M from NE Oklahoma in ’94…A 2-time JUCO All-American at Navarro (TX) JC from 1992-93…Played basketball at Navarro.
Owns an automobile detailing company in the Twin Cities called Automotive Concepts and finds much of his free time being spent at the shop...Hosts “Team Williams Week” in his hometown of Monroe including a football camp for 4 years…Has volunteered his time at the North Minneapolis Probation House to encourage positive relationships with youth and law enforcement… Participated in the Viking Children’s Fund’s “Bowl with the Vikings” event…Named the Bills 2003 recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award as voted by teammates for displaying a commitment to the principles of courage and leadership…Married to Valarie, the couple has daughters, Crystal and Alesha, and a son, Pat.