Ozzie Newsome, the former general manager of the Baltimore Ravens, was renowned for his ability to discover hidden gems in lower-tier college football programs. One of his standout finds was defensive tackle Brandon Williams, who played nine of his 10 NFL seasons with the Ravens before retiring with the team today, according to Ravens staff writer Clifton Brown.
Williams, a product of Division II Missouri Southern, was drafted in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft, somewhat unexpectedly at the tail end of the round. His arrival in Baltimore came at a time when future Hall of Famer Haloti Ngata was nearing the end of his career and when the Ravens were still searching for consistency in the defensive tackle position after the disappointing performance of second-round pick Terrence Cody. The Ravens hoped Williams could develop into a cornerstone for their defensive line.
In his rookie year, Williams played in just seven games as he adjusted to the faster pace and higher skill level of the NFL. Despite limited playing time, Williams made a strong impression, earning a ranking of 19th out of 60 interior defenders by Pro Football Focus. By his second season, he became a full-time starter, and his performance continued to improve. In 2014 and 2015, Williams was ranked as one of the league’s top interior defenders, placing 12th and 15th, respectively, among hundreds of players.
By 2016, Williams was firmly established as a dominant force in the middle of the Ravens’ defensive line. Although he wasn’t known for his pass-rushing abilities, Williams earned recognition for his exceptional run-stopping skills. Around this time, the Ravens found another valuable defensive lineman in undrafted free agent Michael Pierce from Samford, who became Williams’ partner in the interior.
As his career progressed, Williams faced some minor injuries that sidelined him for a few games each season, but he remained a dependable presence in the heart of the Ravens’ defense. In 2022, Williams spent his final NFL season with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he contributed to the team’s Super Bowl victory. Though his best years, including a Pro Bowl selection in 2018, came with the Ravens, Williams will retire with a Super Bowl ring from his time in Kansas City.
Over the course of his 10-year NFL career, Williams played 128 games, starting 114 of them. He tallied 325 tackles, 34 tackles for loss, 21 quarterback hits, and seven sacks. His final game was the Chiefs’ Super Bowl win over the Philadelphia Eagles, capping off his career with a championship. Williams will now retire as a member of the Ravens, the team where he spent the majority of his career and became a key figure on their defensive line.
