Joshua Williams (cornerback)

This article is about the NFL cornerback. For the NFL defensive tackle, see Josh Williams (defensive tackle). For the college running back, see Josh Williams (running back). For other persons with similar names, see Josh Williams (disambiguation).

Joshua Williams (born October 17, 1999) is an American professional football cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Fayetteville State Broncos.

Joshua Williams

Williams with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022
No. 2 – Kansas City Chiefs
Position:	Cornerback
Personal information
Born:	(1999-10-17) October 17, 1999 (age 25) Fayetteville, North Carolina, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:	193 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:	Jack Britt (Fayetteville, North Carolina)
College:	Fayetteville State (2018–2021)
NFL draft:	2022: 4th round, 135th pick
Career history
Kansas City Chiefs (2022–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
2x Super Bowl champion (LVII, LVIII) First-team All-CIAA (2021)
Career NFL statistics as of 2024
Total tackles: 91 Pass deflections: 18 Interceptions: 1 Sacks: 1.0 Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

Williams grew up in Fayetteville, North Carolina and attended Jack Britt High School, where he played football and ran track. After graduating from Jack Britt, he completed a postgraduate year at Palmetto Prep in Columbia, South Carolina.^[1]

College career

Williams primarily played the nickel cornerback position as a freshman at Fayetteville State University.^[2] He moved to outside corner before his sophomore year and finished the season with 32 tackles, one tackle for loss, 11 passes defended, and two interceptions.^[3] Williams' junior season in 2020 was canceled due to COVID-19.^[4] As a senior, he had 31 tackles with nine passes defended and three interceptions, one of which he returned 32 yards for a touchdown, and was named first-team All-Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association.^[1] After the conclusion of his college career, Williams played in the 2022 Senior Bowl.^[5][6] Williams participated in the 2022 NFL Combine.^[7]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	20-yard shuttle	Three-cone drill	Vertical jump	Broad jump	Bench press
6 ft 2+7⁄8 in (1.90 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	32+7⁄8 in (0.84 m)	9+1⁄2 in (0.24 m)	4.53 s	1.54 s	2.60 s	4.47 s	6.95 s	37.0 in (0.94 m)	10 ft 4 in (3.15 m)	11 reps
Sources:[8][9]

Williams was selected in the fourth round, 135th overall, of the 2022 NFL draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.^[10] He was the first player drafted out of Fayetteville State in the regular portion of the NFL Draft. He was first to be selected in any part of the NFL Draft since Blenda Gay went in the 1973 Supplemental Draft.^[11]

Williams caught his first career NFL interception in the Week 7 44–23 win over the San Francisco 49ers.^[12] In the AFC Championship against the Cincinnati Bengals, Williams had an interception on Joe Burrow which helped the Chiefs preserve the lead and win 23–20 when the game was tied at 20.^[13] The Chiefs reached Super Bowl LVII and defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38–35. In the Super Bowl, Williams recorded four tackles.^[14]

In 2023, Williams won his second straight Super Bowl when the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25–22 in Super Bowl LVIII.^[15] Williams recorded two tackles in the game.^[16]