Ozzie Newsome, the former Ravens general manager, was known for his ability to find hidden gems from smaller schools, and one of his standout picks was Missouri Southern defensive tackle Brandon Williams. A Division II prospect, Williams spent nine of his 10 NFL seasons in Baltimore, where he retired today with the team, according to Ravens staff writer Clifton Brown.
Taken in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft, Williams came to Baltimore with modest expectations. With All-Pro defensive tackle Haloti Ngata winding down his career and the Ravens’ previous second-round pick Terrence Cody failing to meet expectations, the team hoped Williams could become the future anchor of their defensive line.
Williams’ rookie season was a gradual transition. He appeared in just seven games while adjusting to the NFL’s speed and talent. However, even in limited time, he impressed, ranking as the 19th best interior defender among 201 players, according to Pro Football Focus. The following year, as a full-time starter, Williams’ performance continued to improve, earning him impressive rankings of 12th out of 199 players in 2014 and 15th of 221 players in 2015.
By 2016, Williams had solidified his role as a key fixture in the Ravens’ defensive line. Although he was never known for his pass-rushing skills, Williams earned a reputation as one of the league’s best run-stoppers. The Ravens also found a reliable partner for him in Michael Pierce, an undrafted small-school prospect from Samford, who rejoined the team in 2022 after a brief departure.
Towards the end of his career, Williams dealt with some injuries that caused him to miss a few games each season, but he remained a steady and dependable presence on the Ravens’ defense. His final season came in 2022 with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he played five games and contributed to their Super Bowl victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Williams earned his Super Bowl ring with the Chiefs, but it was with the Ravens that he made his biggest impact, including a Pro Bowl selection in 2018. Over his 10-year NFL career, Williams made 114 starts in 128 games, recording 325 total tackles, 34 tackles for loss, 21 quarterback hits, and seven sacks. His final game, a Super Bowl win with the Chiefs, marked the end of a stellar career, but Williams will always be remembered as a key contributor to the Ravens’ defense for nearly a decade. Now, he retires with his Super Bowl ring but as a lifelong Raven at heart.
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