Darious Williams Bio
Darious Williams is an American professional football cornerback who played eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Born on March 15, 1993, in Jacksonville, Florida, Williams emerged as a notable defensive player after beginning his collegiate career as a walk-on at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). After signing as an undrafted free agent with the Baltimore Ravens in 2018, he went on to establish a solid NFL career with stints at the Los Angeles Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars before returning to finish his career with the Rams. Williams achieved the pinnacle of professional football when he won Super Bowl LVI as a member of the Los Angeles Rams in 2022. He announced his retirement from professional football on March 7, 2026.
Early Life and Background
Darious Williams was born and grew up in Jacksonville, Florida. He initially attended Bartram Trail High School before transferring to Creekside High School after his freshman year. At Creekside High School in St. Johns, Florida, Williams was a three-sport athlete, competing in basketball, football, and track and field. His versatility as an athlete helped develop the footwork and agility that would later serve him well as a cornerback at the collegiate and professional levels.
After high school, Williams enrolled at Marietta College in Ohio, an NCAA Division III program, where he played one season for the Pioneers football team. However, he left Marietta after the season due to family issues, which prompted him to return to Florida and continue his football career closer to home.
Path to Professional Football
Williams enrolled at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) for the spring semester in 2014. Despite his collegiate experience, he initially was turned down after a tryout to join the football team as a walk-on. Perseverance paid off, as he eventually made the team as a walk-on under new head coach Bill Clark and was awarded a scholarship midway through the 2014 season. When UAB discontinued its football program after that season, Williams attended Florida State College at Jacksonville and worked as a flower delivery driver until UAB brought back the program in June 2015. During this uncertain period, he turned down several offers to transfer to other programs, choosing to wait for UAB’s return.
His dedication paid off during the 2017 season, his final year of collegiate eligibility. Over two seasons with the UAB Blazers, Williams played in 25 games with 18 starts, recording 73 tackles, 26 pass deflections, and 6 interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns. His standout 2017 campaign saw him make 50 tackles with a conference-leading 15 passes broken up and five interceptions, which ranked fourth nationally. These performances earned him first-team All-Conference USA honors and first-team All-American recognition from Pro Football Focus.
Darious Williams Career
Early Career (2018)
Despite having played well at UAB, Williams went undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft. On May 4, 2018, the Baltimore Ravens signed him to a three-year, $1.71 million contract as an undrafted free agent. Throughout training camp, Williams competed for a roster spot as a backup cornerback against established players on the depth chart. Head coach John Harbaugh named Williams the seventh cornerback on the depth chart behind Brandon Carr, Jimmy Smith, Marlon Humphrey, Anthony Averett, Maurice Canady, and Tavon Young.
Williams saw limited action during his brief tenure with the Ravens. He was inactive as a healthy scratch in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills and made his professional debut on September 13, 2018, recording just one snap on special teams during a loss at the Cincinnati Bengals. On October 6, 2018, the Ravens waived Williams to add Jimmy Smith to their active roster following his return from suspension. This move marked the end of his time in Baltimore after just two months.
Los Angeles Rams First Stint (2018-2021)
Two days after being waived by the Ravens, Williams was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Rams on October 8, 2018. Upon his arrival, head coach Sean McVay named him the sixth cornerback on the depth chart behind Marcus Peters, Sam Shields, Nickell Robey-Coleman, Troy Hill, and Dominique Hatfield. He remained on the active roster throughout the 2018 season but was inactive for ten consecutive games as a healthy scratch. Williams made his Rams debut in Week 17 against the San Francisco 49ers, playing limited snaps on special teams and defense in the Rams’ victory.
The 2019 season marked Williams’ emergence as a contributor in the Rams’ secondary. After competing for a roster spot during training camp, he won the last roster spot as the sixth cornerback. He earned his first career start in Week 6 at the Atlanta Falcons and made two solo tackles while also returning a fumble recovery for his first career touchdown during a 37-10 victory. He recorded his first career interception in Week 15 against the San Francisco 49ers, picking off a pass from Jimmy Garoppolo that was deflected by Jalen Ramsey. The following week, he added another interception against the Arizona Cardinals. Williams finished the 2019 season with 15 combined tackles, four passes defended, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery for a touchdown in 14 games and three starts.
The 2020 season saw Williams establish himself as a full-time starter. In Week 4 against the New York Giants, he recorded his first game-winning interception in the closing seconds to secure a 17-9 victory. On November 15, 2020, he recorded a career-high two interceptions off passes thrown by Russell Wilson during a win against the Seattle Seahawks. He finished the 2020 season with 44 combined tackles, 13 pass deflections, and four interceptions in 16 games with 10 starts. His strong performance helped the Rams clinch a playoff berth with a 10-6 record. In his first career playoff game, the Wild-Card Round against the Seattle Seahawks, Williams returned an interception 42 yards for a touchdown in the Rams’ 30-20 victory.
The 2021 season brought the Rams’ Super Bowl run. Williams started 13 of 14 games, recording 71 combined tackles and nine pass deflections. He was placed on injured reserve in October due to an ankle injury but returned in November. During the playoffs, Williams started both the NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers and Super Bowl LVI against the Cincinnati Bengals. In the Super Bowl, he recorded eight combined tackles and one pass deflection as the Rams defeated the Bengals 23-20 to win the championship. Williams earned his first Super Bowl ring with this victory.
Jacksonville Jaguars (2022-2023)
On March 16, 2022, Williams signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars on a three-year, $30 million contract that included $18 million guaranteed. He entered training camp slated as the starting nickelback under defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell. Head coach Doug Pederson named him the starting nickelback and third cornerback on the depth chart behind Tyson Campbell and Shaquill Griffin. Williams became the No. 2 starting cornerback heading into Week 7 after Griffin suffered a back injury and was placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the season. He finished the 2022 season with 53 combined tackles and 16 pass deflections in 17 games with 12 starts.
The 2023 season represented Williams’ finest professional season. He started all 17 games for the first time in his career and recorded 53 combined tackles, a career-high 19 pass deflections, four interceptions, two forced fumbles, and one touchdown. He had multiple interceptions in three consecutive games, including a 61-yard interception return for a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons. His standout season earned him an overall grade of 79.5 from Pro Football Focus and a coverage grade of 85.3. On March 5, 2024, the Jaguars released Williams.
Los Angeles Rams Second Stint (2024-2026)
Williams returned to the Los Angeles Rams on March 13, 2024, signing a three-year, $22.5 million contract that included $7 million guaranteed upon signing. He missed the majority of training camp after injuring his hamstring and was placed on injured reserve on September 5, 2024. The Rams removed him from injured reserve on October 5, 2024, and added him to their active roster after he was sidelined for the first four games of the season. Head coach Sean McVay named Williams a starting cornerback upon his return, pairing him with Cobie Durant.
In Week 14 of the 2024 season, Williams collected a season-high six combined tackles in a victory against the Buffalo Bills. On December 12, 2024, he recorded his only interception of the season on a pass attempt by Brock Purdy to help secure a 12-6 victory at the San Francisco 49ers. He finished the 2024 season with 45 combined tackles, seven pass deflections, and one interception in 12 games with 11 starts. The Rams reached the NFC Championship Game where they faced the Seattle Seahawks in what became Williams’ final career start. He contributed four tackles in that game and played in both playoff contests before the Rams’ season ended. On March 7, 2026, Williams announced his retirement from professional football and was placed on the Rams’ reserve/retired list.
Playing Style and Strengths
Williams was known for his physical style of play and ability to read quarterbacks’ eyes in zone coverage. His collegiate background as a walk-on shaped his competitive nature and work ethic. He demonstrated consistent ball skills throughout his career, regularly leading his team in pass deflections and interceptions. His experience playing multiple coverage roles, including outside cornerback and nickelback, provided defensive coordinators with flexibility in deploying their secondary. His proficiency in man coverage and his ability to track the football made him a reliable option against opposing teams’ top receivers.
Notable Events and Milestones
Williams’ career was highlighted by his championship run with the Rams during the 2021 season, culminating in a Super Bowl LVI victory. His 42-yard interception return for a touchdown in the 2020 Wild-Card Game against Russell Wilson and D.K. Metcalf showcased his playmaking ability on the biggest stage. During the 2023 season with the Jaguars, he recorded at least one interception in three consecutive games, demonstrating his consistency and ball skills. His final career start came in the NFC Championship Game against the Seattle Seahawks in January 2026.
Darious Williams Career Wins
Williams accumulated significant statistics over his eight NFL seasons, totaling 306 career tackles, 77 pass deflections, 12 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, and 2 defensive touchdowns across 106 regular season games with 57 starts. His most productive seasons came with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2023 and with the Rams during their championship run in 2021.
NFL Highlights
Williams’ signature season came in 2023 with the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he started all 17 games and recorded career highs in pass deflections (19) and forced fumbles (2) while adding four interceptions. His 2020 season with the Rams featured four interceptions and 13 pass deflections, including a pivotal game-winning interception against the New York Giants. His 2019 campaign included his first career interception and fumble recovery for a touchdown. Most importantly, his contributions during the 2021 Rams playoff run, including his Super Bowl LVI performance with eight tackles, represented the pinnacle of his professional achievements.
Other Notable Performances
Prior to his NFL career, Williams earned first-team All-Conference USA honors and was named a first-team All-American by Pro Football Focus during his senior season at UAB in 2017. His five interceptions that season led the conference and ranked fourth nationally. He also excelled on special teams early in his career, demonstrating versatility in various roles within defensive schemes.
| Season | Team | Tackles | Interceptions | Pass Deflections |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Los Angeles Rams | 15 | 2 | 4 |
| 2020 | Los Angeles Rams | 44 | 4 | 13 |
| 2021 | Los Angeles Rams | 71 | 0 | 9 |
| 2023 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 53 | 4 | 19 |
| 2024 | Los Angeles Rams | 45 | 1 | 7 |
Darious Williams Family
Family Background and Education
Williams grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, with his family supporting his athletic pursuits throughout his youth. He attended Creekside High School in St. Johns, Florida, where he balanced participation in three sports while maintaining his academic standing. His path through high school included a transfer from Bartram Trail High School after his freshman year, demonstrating his willingness to seek new environments that better suited his development as both a student and athlete.
Personal Life
Following his brief stint at Marietta College in Ohio, Williams returned to Florida due to family issues that required his attention. This challenging period in his life shaped his resilience and determination, traits that would define his professional career as an undrafted player competing against higher-profile draft picks for roster spots. His patience during the UAB football program’s temporary discontinuation, where he worked as a flower delivery driver while waiting for the program’s return, exemplified his character and commitment to his football career.
2025 Season Performance
Darious Williams entered the 2025 NFL season with the Los Angeles Rams following his 2024 campaign where he appeared in 12 games with 11 starts. The 2025 season represented Williams’ 17th year of competitive football since beginning his journey at UAB in 2014. After missing the majority of training camp in 2024 due to a hamstring injury, Williams was expected to participate fully in the Rams’ offseason program and training camp during the 2025 season. His experience and leadership were valuable assets in the Rams’ secondary, where he provided depth at both cornerback positions and in the nickel package. The Rams’ defensive scheme under head coach Sean McVay continued to rely on Williams’ versatility and ball skills. His career totals of 306 tackles and 12 interceptions demonstrated his consistent ability to make plays on the football throughout his professional career. As he approached the latter stages of his career, Williams remained focused on contributing to the Rams’ defensive success and mentoring younger players in the secondary.