Doug Williams (football player)

Doug Williams (born July 28, 1955 in Zachary, Louisiana) is a well-known American football quarterback.

Related Topics:
July 28 - 1955 - Zachary, Louisiana - American football - Quarterback

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Williams was the 1st pick of the 1978 draft, chosen by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He led them to 3 playoff appearances and 1 NFC title game from 1978 to 1982, but an acrimonious contract dispute with the team owner led Williams to leave the Bucs and the NFL to play in the United States Football League. His 31-34-1 regular season record, and 1-3 playoff record made him the best quarterback in Buc history. The Bucs, who had never been to the playoffs before Williams arrived, had gone to the playoffs three times in four years and played in the 1978 NFC Championship Game.

Related Topics:
Draft - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Playoff - NFC - NFL - United States Football League - 1978 - NFC Championship

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1986, Williams returned to the NFL, joining the Washington Redskins at the behest of Redskins coach Joe Gibbs, who had been the quarterbacks coach at Tampa Bay when Williams was there.

Related Topics:
Washington Redskins - Joe Gibbs

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Initially Williams served as the backup for starting quarterback Jay Schroeder, but after Schroeder became injured, Williams ended up starting the last games of the 1987 regular season. When the Skins made the playoffs, Williams, with his 94.0 passer rating, remained starter. He led the team to Super Bowl XXII, becoming the first black quarterback to play in the Super Bowl. On Media Day, Williams was reportedly asked one of the most famous questions in Media Day history. "How long have you been a black quarterback?" Although the question has become legendary, the story is seemingly an urban legend, sprung up from a misunderstanding of some of the questions Williams was asked.

Related Topics:
Jay Schroeder - Super Bowl XXII - Super Bowl - Urban legend

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Facing legendary Broncos quarterback John Elway, Williams engineered a 42-10 rout, in which the Redskins set an NFL record by scoring 5 touchdowns in the second quarter. Williams completed 18 of 29 passes for 340 yards, with 4 TD passes, and was named Super Bowl MVP.

Related Topics:
Broncos - John Elway - Super Bowl MVP

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Super Bowl was clearly the high point of Williams' NFL career. He suffered from injuries the following season, and was outshined by Mark Rypien, who eventually won the starting job from Williams. Williams would play one final season in 1989, as backup to Rypien, during his first Pro Bowl season.

Related Topics:
Super Bowl - Mark Rypien - 1989 - Pro Bowl

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Williams retired with a 6-8 record as Redskins starter, (9-8, counting playoffs) and a 37-42-1 record as a regular season starter (41-43-1, including 7 playoff starts.) He had 100 passing touchdowns, and 15 rushing touchdowns, in 88 NFL games.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Williams became the head football coach at Grambling State University in 1998, succeeding the legendary Eddie Robinson. He led the Tigers to 3 consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference titles from 2000-2002, before leaving to rejoin the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a personnel executive.

Related Topics:
Grambling State University - Eddie Robinson

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~