Before the 2004 NFL Draft, Roy Williams was touted as a surefire first-round pick.
The receiver had just wrapped a collegiate career with the University of Texas where he put up such gaudy stats that he was nicknamed “The Legend.”
Sure enough, just seven picks into the draft, the Detroit Lions pounced and selected Williams.
That marked two consecutive years that the Lions drafted a receiver in the first round.
As excited as Detroit fans were at the prospect of two notable pass catchers, the team continued to struggle.
Just learned that Roy Williams is retiring. Gonna miss him…not to be confused with Dallas Cowboys Roy Williams @dallascowboys
@Lions pic.twitter.com/YImHw6ziyB
— Jamal Johnson (@HeadCoachJJ) April 1, 2021
Williams had a few good years in the Motor City before being traded to the Dallas Cowboys in 2008.
Instead of taking the world by storm in his home state, Williams had two plus mediocre seasons with America’s Team.
He was traded to Chicago in 2011 where he retired after the season, never living up to his lofty expectations.
This is the story of Roy Williams.
“Friday Night Lights”
Roy Eugene Williams Jr. was born on December 21, 1981, in Odessa, Texas.
Growing up in the desolate plains of West Texas, Williams didn’t have a lot to do other than play sports.
Luckily for him, Williams just happened to play sports at one of the most infamous high schools in America.
In 1990, the book Friday Night Lights was published.
It was a story, written by author H.G. Bissinger, about the 1988 Permian High School Panthers football team.
The book was a huge success and led to a movie and television series.
Only 10 years later, Williams was the one starring for the Panthers.
One of MOJO's all-time greats.@OdessaPermian standout Roy Williams takes his spot on the @uiltexas list of the Top 50 Players in Texas High School Football history!@JackBox | #TXHSFB pic.twitter.com/ZHRUr3rujO
— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) October 10, 2020
While attending Permian, he played football, baseball, basketball, and ran track.
Williams was great at all four and earned all-district honors in baseball and basketball while also earning all-state awards in football and track.
No dumb jock, Williams also made sure to keep up with his studies and was on the Permian honor roll all four years.
As great as he was on the track, court, and diamond, Williams was otherworldly on the gridiron.
In three years on the Panthers’ varsity team, he caught 100 total passes for 2,364 yards and 30 touchdowns.
Texas Longhorns
Williams attracted attention from every college in the nation, especially the schools in his home state.
After considering scholarship offers from a host of programs, Williams decided to matriculate to the University of Texas and play for the Longhorns.
Then-Texas head coach Mack Brown couldn’t believe his good fortune.
GOAT Wide Receivers From Every #PowerFive 🏈
Texas: Roy Williams
High School: Permian High School (Odessa, TX)
Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 215 pounds
College highlights: AP All-American (2003), 3x All-Big 12 (2001-03), Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year (2000), Cotton Bowl… pic.twitter.com/vWfI8YODiT— stadiumtalkcom (@stadiumtalkcom) October 10, 2023
In addition to Williams, the ‘Horns bagged fellow receiver recruits Sloan Thomas and B.J. Johnson.
Fans of the team were absolutely giddy at the prospect of the three catching passes for the burnt orange and white and the trio were considered the best incoming group of receivers in school history.
Although he was just a freshman, Williams showed the nation in 2000 that he was up to the challenge of college ball.
While the Longhorns went 9-3, Williams had 40 receptions for 809 yards and eight touchdowns and added two more scores on the ground.
He was then named the Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year.
In 2001, he caught 67 passes for 836 yards and seven touchdowns and brought home first-team All-Big 12 honors.
Texas finished the year 11-2 and defeated the Washington Huskies in the Holiday Bowl, 47-43.
During the contest, quarterback Major Applewhite found Williams for a 25-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
“The Legend”
During his junior year, Williams struggled with a hamstring injury yet still hauled in 64 passes for 1,142 yards, and a career-high 12 scores.
The Longhorns had another 11-2 season in 2002 and another bowl victory.
Texas and Houston meet for the first time since 2002 this weekend!
On September 21st, 2002, the Longhorns obliterated the Cougars 41-11. Chris Simms and Roy Williams hooked up early for Texas' first touchdown! #HookEm 🤟 | @SSN_Longhorns pic.twitter.com/389B62I70K
— Field Court & Diamond (@FieldCourtDmd) October 17, 2023
In the 2003 Cotton Bowl, Williams caught a 51-yard bomb from Chris Simms in the second quarter to cut into the lead of the LSU Tigers.
That score turned the momentum of the game and led to another Williams touchdown on a 39-yard run in the third quarter.
Texas eventually won, 35-20, and Williams was named the contest’s Offensive MVP after his four-catch, 142 receiving yards, and two touchdown afternoon.
His stats were good for a program-record five straight 100-yard receiving games.
Williams could have turned his stellar career into NFL riches, but he decided to stay for his senior year.
In 2003, he kept up the hype by catching 70 passes for 1,079 yards and nine touchdowns while being named a second-team All-Big-12 and second-team All-American.
The ‘Horns went 10-3 and lost in the 2003 Holiday Bowl to Washington State despite a 30-yard Williams touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Williams’s brilliant college career came to a close with the loss.
Former #Longhorns star Roy Williams pic.twitter.com/cg0Y9S89A9
— TEAM NBS Media (@TeamNBSMedia) June 15, 2020
“The Legend,” as he was called by Texas fans, had totals of 241 receptions, 3,866 yards, and 36 touchdowns in his college career.
He also ran the ball 16 times for 243 yards and three touchdowns.
All of his receiving marks set school records and Williams was a semi-finalist for the Biletnikoff Award after his junior and senior years.
A No-Brainer in the 2004 NFL Draft
Williams was still in the middle of his senior year when NFL scouts began salivating over his franchise-transforming talent.
He was a bonafide receiving threat and had serious wheels to boot.
During his time in Austin, Williams also ran track for the Horns and competed in the high and long jumps, and posted a personal best time of 10.30 seconds in the 100-meter dash.
Before the draft, scouts raved about his size, 6’3, 215 pounds, speed, 4.37 seconds in the 40-yard dash, and hands.
One of the few negatives was his strength, which scouts thought could be corrected in the weight room.
The Detroit Lions couldn’t have cared less about how many bench press reps Williams could do.
Detroit had drafted Michigan State receiver Charles Rogers in the first round in 2003 and only won five games.
General manager Matt Millen and head coach Steve Mariucci believed Williams could help jump-start the team’s passing attack and took him with the seventh overall pick in the ‘04 draft.
The last time the Detroit Lions drafted at No. 7, they took WR Roy Williams from the University of Texas (2004).
Who are they taking this year?
https://t.co/4Z2p1DqF10— Barstool Detroit (@BSMotorCity) April 26, 2021
Quarterback Joey Harrington then found Williams 54 times for 817 yards and eight touchdowns that year (all Lions rookie records).
Williams struggled with an ankle injury for most of the season yet was added to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
Unfortunately, the Lions still couldn’t compete even with Williams catching passes and won only six games.
Pro Bowl
When it came time for the Lions to make their first pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, Millen raised eyebrows when he selected yet another receiver.
Mike Williams (no relation to Roy) was a star with the USC Trojans and had 176 receptions in just two college seasons.
Instead of staying in school, Williams declared for the draft and Millen couldn’t help himself.
By then, Rogers had suffered two significant injuries and it was clear to Lions management that he wasn’t the player they thought they were getting in 2003.
Roy Williams did his best to pick up the slack in ‘05 and started 12 games, catching 45 passes for 687 yards and eight touchdowns.
Then in 2006, with Mike Williams struggling and Roger’s out of football, Roy Williams stepped up again and caught a career-high 82 passes for 1,310 yards (also a career-high) and seven touchdowns.
Roy Williams 2006 pic.twitter.com/Slqf2l5Wvt
— Joey (@JoeyHorneyII) July 9, 2021
His yardage was tops among NFC receivers and Williams became the first Detroit receiver since Herman Moore in 1998 to get voted to the Pro Bowl.
Williams & Megatron
On the first day of the 2007 NFL Draft, Detroit traded Mike Williams to the Oakland Raiders.
The Lions then selected Georgia Tech receiver Calvin “Megatron” Johnson with the second overall pick.
NFL Draft fun fact. The Detroit Lions are the only franchise to select a WR with their 1st round choice in three successive drafts (2003-05) and four of five (2003-05 & 07).
2003- Charles Rogers #2
2004- Roy Williams #7
2005- Mike Williams #10
2007- Calvin Johnson #2 pic.twitter.com/l7QkQd0DKo— FB_Helmet_Guy (@FB_Helmet_Guy) April 23, 2019
While Johnson was catching 45 passes in his rookie year, Williams battled injuries but still started 12 games and had 64 receptions for 838 yards and five touchdowns.
Both receivers and quarterback Jon Kitna were talented enough to produce decent stats for the team.
Detroit won seven games in head coach Rod Marinelli’s second year, a big improvement over three victories in 2006.
The Lions just needed a few more pieces to get over the hump and contend for the playoffs.
Then, in 2008, the bottom fell out.
Trade to Dallas
Just when it looked like the Lions were trending in the right direction, the team took a giant step back in 2008.
For the first time since the NFL expanded to 16 games, Detroit became the first team to go 0-16.
Williams wasn’t present for all 16 losses, thankfully.
After the first five games of the season, and only 15 minutes until the trade deadline, the Lions traded Williams to the Dallas Cowboys for a host of 2009 draft picks.
Dec 20: Happy birthday to former Cowboy Roy Williams (WR: 2008-10, b. 1981). The Cowboys obtained Williams in a trade with the Lions — what did the Cowboys give up for Williams? pic.twitter.com/2s7zDJFbxb
— Fred Goodwin (@fgoodwin) December 20, 2020
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones had tried to get Williams home to Texas for some time and he finally got his man.
“I’m more happy to be a Dallas Cowboy than when I got my first bike,” said Williams.
Just hours after signing his prize, Jones inked Williams to a six-year deal for $54 million and $26 million guaranteed.
His plan was to put Williams into the starting lineup with veteran Terrell Owens.
“We got two guys out there that can really run, they’re big, but as you know, both of them can really make spectacular catches,” Jones said.
Now that he was out of purgatory, Williams hoped to find his mojo with quarterback Tony Romo.
Unfortunately, that didn’t happen and the receiver caught just 19 passes for 198 yards and one score while Dallas went 9-7.
In 2009, Williams had a full season to work out the kinks with Romo, but second-year receiver Miles Austin ended up becoming the quarterback’s go-to.
While Williams caught only 38 passes for seven touchdowns, Austin had 81 receptions for over 1,300 yards and 11 scores.
The Cowboys made the playoffs and defeated Philadelphia in the Wild Card round, aided by several clutch receptions from Williams.
One week later, Dallas lost to Minnesota in the divisional round.
Williams Goes to Chicago
In the 2010 NFL Draft, the Cowboys selected Oklahoma State receiver Dez Bryant.
Williams was able to keep the rookie at bay and started alongside Austin.
As the season progressed, Bryant took more reps from Williams and it was clear that the veteran’s days as a starter were numbered.
In a Week 12 Thanksgiving tilt against the New Orleans Saints, Williams made a huge catch that looked to seal a victory.
Seconds later, he was caught from behind by a New Orleans defender and fumbled.
I will never forget the Saints vs. Cowboys 2010 Thanksgiving game when Malcolm Jenkins stripped the ball out from Roy Williams that set up Lance Moore TD. That made me won $200 bet from my cousin who is a Cowboys fan. WELCOME BACK TO BLACK & GOLD @MalcolmJenkins!!! #WHODAT ⚜️⚜️⚜️ pic.twitter.com/YGoF6HOMwB
— ⚜ WHO DAT Cool Breesy ⚜ (@Steve2duhO) March 18, 2020
The turnover led to a game-winning touchdown for the Saints.
“If I had to do it over again I’d do the same thing, but I’d cover it up and hopefully I’d fall into the end zone next time,” Williams said. “The mishap happened. It’s just a freak thing. It’s football, it happens, you hate for that type of thing to happen at that time.”
By the end of the year, Williams had taken a back seat to Bryant.
He ended the ‘10 season with 37 receptions for five touchdowns and was released by Dallas.
As bad as the Amari Cooper trade was, it doesn’t even come close to the Roy Williams trade.
Kids today would’ve lost their minds after the Cowboys sent their 1st, 3rd, and 6th round pick to the Lions in exchange for Williams and a 6th round pick. Set the team back a few years. pic.twitter.com/OkJQqYlqi4
— Ernie (@es3_09) January 4, 2023
At the end of July, the Chicago Bears reached out and signed Williams, a move that thrilled quarterback Jay Cutler.
“[Williams is a] heck of a player. The guy’s been in this system so we wouldn’t have to teach him that much, just kind of get him refreshed,” Cutler said.
Meanwhile, when asked in 2011 about his trade for Williams (and only 94 total receptions in two-plus years), Jerry Jones was still stinging.
“I’d love to have that trade back,” Jones said.
Williams Retires
In his first year in the Windy City, Williams responded with 37 catches for 504 yards and two touchdowns.
Bears legend Roy Williams pic.twitter.com/0HcR8hqaDq
— Jeremy (@Smallzz3214) January 19, 2024
Once again, he failed to live up to the hype his name brought to a franchise and Chicago cut him loose after the 2011 season.
The Miami Dolphins called and asked him to come for a try-out, but he declined.
Williams knew he could keep playing but ultimately decided to retire.
“It’s hard to quit when you have been doing something since the third grade,” Williams said. “I’m in good shape. I’m at 208 pounds, my lowest weight since college. I can still play. But when I declined to workout in Miami, I knew I was done.”
During his NFL career, Williams had 393 receptions for 5,715 yards and 44 touchdowns.
He made the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2004 and was voted to the Pro Bowl once.
Busy in Business
After leaving the NFL, Williams returned to Texas and got into the oil business.
Professional athlete and former NFL wide receiver Roy Williams has left his mark in the trucking industry too. Roy’s company, RDUB Trucking, LLC has proven to be a success. The Midland, Texas based company is involved in the Texas oil industry and has been operating since 2012. pic.twitter.com/iJDQupTFAA
— Truckers Network (@160Network) May 5, 2022
He started a trucking company with one vehicle that expanded to 14 within two years.
“I played golf, I played with my children and I played video games for three weeks,” said Williams. “I could not sit still. I knew nothing about it, knew absolutely nothing about trucking or the oil field. I knew that I loved it here in the oil field, but knew nothing about it.”
Williams’s company delivers water to oil fields in the West Texas area.
As for his disappointing pro career, Williams has no regrets.
“It is what it is man, it was a great time and I don’t regret anything that happened,” he said in 2014.
References
https://texassports.com/news/2003/1/1/010103aaa_575.aspx
https://www.espn.com/chicago/nfl/story/_/id/6815205/roy-williams-chicago-bears-agree
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/football/2004draft/Williams,Roy-WR-Texas.htm
https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-ranking-past-picks-no-7-overall
https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/roy-williams-3.html
https://www.nfl.com/news/lions-trade-wr-williams-to-cowboys-for-three-draft-picks-09000d5d80ba4c11
https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/former-cowboy-roy-williams-finds-success-in-trucking/110693/
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