BRANDON WILLIAMS
SMILE THROUGH PAIN AND SEE THE GAIN By Sarah Hampton Brandon Williams has achieved noteworthy success as an NFL defensive tackle. When he became a fulltime starter in 2014, Williams emerged as an anchor for the Ravens’ defense and solidified his status as a major force in blocking opposing rushers. Since then, Baltimore ranks first in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game and second in yards per carry allowed. “Brandon is as good as they get, in terms of stopping the run,” defensive line coach Joe Cullen said. “He’s a difference maker.” Williams’ journey has been unconventional, and he is much more than a football player. Aside from defensive tackle, No. 98 identifies as a father, a husband, a son, a brother, a community servant, a lover of fun and maybe most importantly, as someone who never gives up. Before he started making an impact on the field, he had to overcome obstacles and adversities that would forever influence his outlook on life and his approach to work – obstacles that many would find unthinkable and impassable. Williams was homeless for a brief time in high school. He slept on teammates’ couches and struggled between sporadic meals. But he didn’t let that stop him from pursuing an education.
He became a three-time Division II All-American at Missouri Southern State but was still met with hardship. Williams came face to face with a potentially careerand life-ending back issue when he contracted spinal meningitis before his sophomore year. Additionally, to make ends meet, he hauled portable toilets for three years as a part-time job. While staring difficulties down – difficulties most college students never dream of facing – Williams built a collegiate career that led to his selection by the Ravens in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Throughout his time in Baltimore, Williams has proven to be an immovable and dominant force on the defensive line, a stalwart who does his job. “He’s played a lot of good games, and he doesn’t get a lot of attention because being a run stopper isn’t sexy in this league anymore,” defensive coordinator Don Martindale shared. “Everybody wants sacks. But all the stats prove that when he’s on the D-line for us, we play better against the run.” In many ways, Williams’ hardships have evolved into blessings, both on and off the field. His courage to persevere and commitment to be his best self have been aided by laughs and smiles, which have served as motivational tools to work through the hurdles he has faced. “I try to make every moment fun,” Williams said. In doing so, he’s created a rewarding and enjoyable life for himself, his children, and anyone with whom he comes into contact. 2019 BALTIMORE RAVENS GAMEDAY | 11
SITTING DOWN WITH NO. 98 WHAT DO YOU TELL YOURSELF WHEN THINGS GET TOUGH?
YOU SEEM TO HAVE A LOT OF FUN WHILE YOU WORK. IS THAT A PRIORITY FOR YOU?
“Keep grinding, keep a smile on your face. I learned that from my mom growing up. When times got rough, you really never knew [what was going to happen], but she always kept working and had a smile on her face. Anytime things did get rough, she’d try to flip it a different way that made it fun for us. Like, say, if the lights were off, she would put candles in the front room, and we were building a fort and were going to camp out. And we were like, ‘Let’s do it!’”
“Why make things serious? Control what you can control. If you can’t control it, why worry about it? Just keep moving on. That’s how I look at it. And if something messes up, then guess what? It’s messed up, let’s fix it, and let’s get over it. It’s as simple as that to me.”
HAS FATHERHOOD MADE YOU A BETTER FOOTBALL PLAYER?
“Jerome Bettis. I met him at the Super Bowl in San Francisco, and he was my favorite player growing up, because I was a big kid who wanted to run the ball, and he did it and won a Super Bowl. I was kind of starstruck.”
“Definitely, because it’s not about me anymore. If I fail, then where does that leave them? So, I have to make sure I’m on point all the time, just to make sure that they are always having what they need, and I want to make sure they’re safe.”
IF YOU WEREN’T A FOOTBALL PLAYER, WHAT WOULD YOU BE? “I’d be a firefighter. That was my Plan B before this. I went to fire academy and EMT training when I was in college. I had back surgery, and I didn’t know if I was going to be able to play football again, so I needed something to fall back on. I did that, and I was really good at it, and I loved it. That was pretty much what I wanted to do, but this worked out pretty well. But if football was over, and my body was still in the capable way – able to be out there and help – I probably still would volunteer.”
WHO IS SOMEONE YOU MET ONLY ONCE THAT LEFT A BIG IMPRESSION ON YOU?
WHO IS YOUR BIGGEST FOOTBALL ROLE MODEL? “When I first started playing football in eighth grade, I really didn’t know much about it, but I did watch a little bit, and I knew some of the big players. I really liked Warren Sapp growing up – his physicality, his motor, his high intensity.”
WHY DO YOU DO WHAT YOU DO, AND WHY HAVE YOU BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN DOING IT? “Growing up rough kind of helped. I never wanted my kids to go through that. I wanted to break that cycle. My father wasn’t around all the time, as much as I would have liked him to be, so I wanted to be there for my kids. I didn’t want that life for my kids. I didn’t want that life for me. So, I made sure that I would set my life up to where I could have everything that I want, break cycles and be the best Williams and make my name proud.” 2019 BALTIMORE RAVENS GAMEDAY | 13