Mario Williams

Lore & Background

Williams attended Richlands High School in Richlands, North Carolina, where he was a two-sport star in football and track. He recorded 87 tackles, 13 sacks, 22 tackles for loss, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and five blocked kicks as a senior. He also played running back as a senior because of injuries at that position, rushing for 590 yards and three touchdowns on 58 carries. As a junior, he recorded over 100 tackles. He was selected to the 2002 North Carolina Shrine Bowl team where he notched four sacks. He was an Associated Press (AP) All-State selection in 2002. He was just one of three North Carolina High School players to be named to FoxSN's 2002 Countdown to Signing Day All-South team. His high school number (82) was retired. Williams also competed in track & field, and was a state qualifier in the shot put (top-throw of 52-5 or 16.05m). He was ranked No. 8 in SuperPrep's Elite 50 overall. He was considered the fifth-best defensive end in the country by BorderWars.com, while Rivals100.com ranked him ninth. Williams attended North Carolina State University, where he played for the NC State Wolfpack from 2003 to 2005. In only three seasons on the team he set the school's all-time sack record, a record which stood until 2017 when it was broken by Bradley Chubb, a player in his fourth season with the team. Despite draft analysts predicting that the Houston Texans would pick Reggie Bush with the first overall pick in the 2006 NFL draft, they instead selected Williams and signed him to a six-year, $54 million contract. On October 1, 2006, Williams recorded his first sack and a half against Miami Dolphins' quarterback Daunte Culpepper in the Texans' first win of the season (score 17–15). Three weeks later, Williams sacked Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Byron Leftwich and recovered a fumble in the Texans' 27–7 upset. In the 2006 season, Williams started all 16 games with 47 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. Early in the 2007 season, Williams played well, with an outstanding performance in the first game. Williams made five tackles, two sacks, and returned a fumble by Kansas City Chiefs fullback Kris Wilson for a touchdown. He had particularly big games against the Denver Broncos and Tennessee Titans, sacking quarterback Jay Cutler 3.5 times and quarterback Vince Young 2.5 times in one game each.

Reader's Guide

Mario Williams was a dominant defensive end known for his sack production. He set the NC State all-time sack record in just three seasons. He was the first overall pick in the 2006 NFL draft by the Houston Texans, where he recorded 53 career sacks (second most in franchise history) and 11 forced fumbles (second most in franchise history). He earned four Pro Bowl selections and multiple All-Pro honors. He also played for the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins. Off the field, he donated vehicles to the Houston Police Department and created a breakfast cereal called 'MariO's' to support children with cancer.

Did You Know?

• He donated five Chevrolet Camaros to the Houston Police Department in 2011 and five Dodge Chargers in 2013.
• Williams debuted a honey-toasted oats breakfast cereal called 'MariO's' in 2012, with proceeds going to a Buffalo charity supporting children with cancer.

Houston Tenure and Defensive Evolution

Williams started all 16 games as a rookie in 2006, recording 47 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and one forced fumble. In 2007, he started all 16 games with 59 total tackles and 14 sacks. He had particularly big games against the Denver Broncos and Tennessee Titans, sacking Jay Cutler 3.5 times and Vince Young 2.5 times in one game each. His first sack of 2007 was of Peyton Manning. The Sporting News named him first-team All-Pro, though he was only voted an alternate to the Pro Bowl. In 2008, he amassed 12 sacks and 53 tackles in 16 starts, including three sacks and one forced fumble in the Texans' first ever Monday Night Football game. He was selected for his first Pro Bowl as a starter and was a first-team All-Pro selection by the Sporting News for the second consecutive season. He was again selected to the Pro Bowl after the 2009 season. On December 15, 2010, the Texans placed him on injured reserve with an inflamed hernia; he had 8.5 sacks through 13 games. In 2011, he transitioned to outside linebacker. During Week 5 against the Oakland Raiders, he suffered a torn pectoral muscle while sacking Jason Campbell for his team-leading fifth sack. On October 12, the Texans placed him on injured reserve for the second consecutive year. His contract ended in 2011, and he became a free agent. He left Houston with franchise records of 53 career sacks and 11 forced fumbles, both later surpassed by J. J. Watt.

Buffalo Bills Era and Contract Legacy

On March 15, 2012, Williams signed a six-year contract with the Buffalo Bills worth up to $100 million ($49.5 million guaranteed), the most lucrative contract for a defensive player in NFL history at the time. He wore number 94 with the Bills. He started all 16 games in 2012, making 46 tackles, 10.5 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles, with a season-high 3 sacks against the Colts on November 25. On September 15, 2013, he had 4.5 sacks against the Carolina Panthers, breaking the Bills franchise record for most sacks in a game. He finished 2013 with 38 tackles, a forced fumble, 4 passes defended, and 13 sacks in 16 starts. In 2014, he had 42 total tackles and 14.5 sacks, earning AP All-Pro First-team honors and a Pro Bowl selection. After the Bills hired Rex Ryan as head coach, Williams was outspoken in his disdain for the scheme, complaining about dropping back into coverage. His effort declined, and he registered only 5.0 sacks in 2015. On March 1, 2016, he was released by the Bills.