Marcus Alan Williams Bio
Marcus Alan Williams is an American professional football safety who currently plays for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League. Born on September 8, 1996, in Corona, California, Williams established himself as a standout defensive player during his college career at the University of Utah. The New Orleans Saints selected Williams in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft with the 42nd overall pick. He earned PFWA All-Rookie Team honors in his debut season and has built a reputation as a reliable safety with strong coverage skills throughout his NFL career.
Early Life and Background
Marcus Alan Williams grew up in Corona, California, and attended Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Eastvale. At Eleanor Roosevelt, Williams played both wide receiver and defensive back for the Mustangs football team while also participating in basketball and track. His exceptional athleticism and football instincts caught the attention of college scouts across the country. He ultimately chose to continue his football career at the University of Utah over scholarship offers from Washington and California.
Path to Professional Football
Williams arrived at the University of Utah in 2014 as a true freshman and immediately contributed on defense. He played in all 13 games with six starts, recording 59 tackles and one interception during his debut season. His sophomore year in 2015 marked a breakthrough, as he earned First-team All-Pac-12 honors after collecting 65 tackles and five interceptions in 13 starts. He intercepted a pass from California’s Jared Goff during Utah’s 30-24 victory on October 10, 2015, showcasing his ability to make clutch plays in big moments.
As a junior in 2016, Williams continued his strong play despite missing some games due to injury. He returned on November 10 against Arizona State and recorded nine tackles with an interception in the end zone. He finished the season with 64 tackles and five interceptions in 11 games, earning Second-team All-Pac-12 recognition. Williams completed his college career with 11 interceptions and 188 total tackles over three seasons. He entered the 2017 NFL Draft as a projected second-round selection, ranked among the top safeties in his draft class.
Marcus Alan Williams Career
New Orleans Saints Era (2017-2021)
The New Orleans Saints selected Marcus Williams in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft with the 42nd overall pick. He signed a four-year contract worth $6.24 million that included $3.42 million guaranteed and a $2.67 million signing bonus. Williams competed for the starting free safety role during training camp against Vonn Bell and earned the backup position behind Kenny Vaccaro to begin his rookie season.
Williams made his professional debut and first career start in the Saints’ season opener against the Minnesota Vikings on September 11, 2017. His first career interception came in Week 3 against the Carolina Panthers when he picked off a pass from Cam Newton. Williams closed his rookie season with 73 combined tackles, seven pass deflections, and four interceptions in 15 games and 15 starts. He earned PFWA All-Rookie Team honors for his strong debut performance. The Saints finished the 2017 season 11-5 and reached the playoffs, where Williams recorded eight tackles in the Wildcard Round victory over Carolina.
The Divisional Round against Minnesota became one of the most memorable moments of Williams’ career, though not for favorable reasons. With seconds remaining and the Saints up by one point, Williams attempted to tackle Stefon Diggs on a final play but missed the tackle and knocked over teammate Ken Crawley instead. Diggs caught the pass and ran untouched into the end zone for a 61-yard touchdown as time expired, resulting in a 29-24 loss known as the Minneapolis Miracle.
Williams continued as the Saints’ starting free safety from 2018 through 2020. In 2018, he started all 16 games and recorded 59 tackles, three pass deflections, two interceptions, one sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. In 2019, he accumulated 55 tackles, 13 pass deflections, and four interceptions in 15 starts. Following the departure of Vonn Bell, the Saints paired Williams with Malcolm Jenkins at safety. On March 9, 2021, the Saints placed the franchise tag on Williams before signing him to a fully guaranteed one-year, $10.61 million contract on March 30.
Baltimore Ravens Era (2022-2024)
On March 16, 2022, Williams signed with the Baltimore Ravens on a five-year contract worth $70 million with $37 million guaranteed. His Ravens debut came in Week 1 against the New York Jets, where he recorded 12 combined tackles, a 33-yard interception return, and a forced fumble in the 24-9 victory. Williams suffered a dislocated wrist in Week 5 and was placed on injured reserve on October 11, 2022, before being activated on December 10.
In the 2023 season, Williams suffered a torn pectoral in the Ravens’ season-opening win over Houston. He decided to forego surgery to return during the season and missed six games overall while still finishing with 55 tackles, eight pass breakups, and one interception. The 2024 season proved challenging as Williams’ performance declined significantly. He was benched for Week 8 against the Cleveland Browns and experienced additional benching later in the season. He was inactive as a healthy scratch for the final five games of the 2024 season.
Los Angeles Chargers (2025-Present)
On March 12, 2025, the Baltimore Ravens released Williams. He signed with the Los Angeles Chargers’ practice squad on October 28, 2025. This move presented Williams with an opportunity to continue his NFL career and work toward earning a spot on the Chargers’ active roster.
Playing Style and Strengths
Marcus Williams has built his reputation as a coverage safety with excellent ball skills and instincts. His ability to read quarterbacks and anticipate plays led to his high interception totals throughout his career. Williams demonstrated versatility by playing both free safety and strong safety positions, adapting to different defensive schemes. His combination of size and speed allowed him to match up against tight ends and running backs while still being effective in deep coverage.
Notable Events and Milestones
The most infamous moment of Williams’ career occurred during the 2017 NFC Divisional Round playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings, famously known as the Minneapolis Miracle. While the outcome was unfavorable for the Saints, the play highlighted Williams’ presence in critical game situations. Throughout his career, Williams has been recognized for his consistent performance, including his 2017 PFWA All-Rookie selection and his college accolades at Utah.
Marcus Alan Williams Career Statistics
Williams has compiled impressive statistics across his NFL career spanning from 2017 to 2025. His career totals reflect his consistency as a starting safety in the league. He has appeared in 128 regular season games throughout his professional career.
Career Highlights
Throughout his professional career, Williams has recorded 479 total tackles, 20 interceptions, 56 pass deflections, 4 fumble recoveries, and 3 forced fumbles. His best statistical season came in 2017 when he earned PFWA All-Rookie Team honors with 73 tackles and four interceptions. His most recent confirmed statistics date through the 2025 season.
College Career Statistics
At the University of Utah from 2014 to 2016, Williams recorded 188 total tackles and 11 interceptions over three seasons. His five-interception seasons in both 2015 and 2016 demonstrated his reliability as a playmaker in the secondary.
| Season | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Pass Deflections |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | New Orleans Saints | 15 | 73 | 4 | 7 |
| 2018 | New Orleans Saints | 16 | 59 | 2 | 3 |
| 2019 | New Orleans Saints | 15 | 55 | 4 | 13 |
| 2020 | New Orleans Saints | 16 | 76 | 3 | 8 |
| 2021 | New Orleans Saints | 16 | 74 | 3 | 6 |
| 2022 | Baltimore Ravens | 10 | 61 | 2 | 5 |
| 2023 | Baltimore Ravens | 11 | 55 | 1 | 8 |
| 2024 | Baltimore Ravens | 13 | 26 | 1 | 6 |
2025 Season Performance
Marcus Williams joined the Los Angeles Chargers late in the 2025 season, signing with the practice squad on October 28. This move represented a fresh start for Williams after a challenging 2024 season with the Baltimore Ravens. The Chargers provided him with an opportunity to work his way back onto an active NFL roster. As he continues his tenure with the Chargers organization, Williams aims to demonstrate the coverage skills and playmaking ability that defined his early NFL career.