Madieu Williams
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Career Summary
Madieu Williams was an NFL safety from Maryland who played nine seasons.
NFL records list 119 games, 515 tackles, 13 interceptions and two defensive touchdowns across Cincinnati, Minnesota, San Francisco and Washington.
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Early Life
Williams was born in Sierra Leone and moved to the United States at age nine.
Maryland documented his Sierra Leone birth and later described his family’s move to the United States when he was nine.
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High School
Williams attended DuVal High School in Seabrook, Maryland.
He was a two-year starting cornerback, earned all-county recognition, and also lettered in track and baseball.
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College Career
Williams transferred from Towson to Maryland, became a walk-on, and emerged as an All-ACC safety.
At Maryland he started all 12 games as a senior, made second-team All-ACC and recorded 81 tackles with three interceptions. His college career totaled 258 tackles and eight interceptions.
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Path to the NFL
Cincinnati drafted Williams in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft.
The Bengals selected the Maryland free safety with the 56th overall pick.
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NFL Career
Williams played from 2004 through 2012 for Cincinnati, Minnesota, San Francisco and Washington.
NFL statistics show his highest tackle total was 90 as a Bengals rookie in 2004. He later recorded a touchdown on an interception return for Washington in 2012.
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Career Accomplishments
Williams was recognized as the 2010 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year.
Maryland said he recorded 587 career tackles, 13 interceptions and two touchdowns and built a school near Freetown, Sierra Leone through his education work.
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Playing Style
Maryland described Williams as a physical, athletic safety with the versatility to play cornerback in nickel and dime packages.
His college profile emphasized his run-support ability, speed and quickness, along with his work ethic.
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Legacy
Williams’s legacy includes education work in Sierra Leone as well as his Maryland and NFL career.
Maryland reported that he returns annually to Sierra Leone to support education and that the resulting school was the first of its kind in its community.
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Post-Career
After football, Williams applied lessons from Maryland and the NFL to his business work.
In a Maryland feature, Williams described how his former coach’s lessons helped shape his NFL career and later business work.
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20553, 00-0022842, 1981-10-18, Madieu Williams, Madieu, Williams
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