By Jim Gehman, Player Engagement Insider
As a defensive tackle, Kyle Williams plays a position that resembles being in a pinball game. Every snap he makes contact with an opposing guard or a center or both. After he battles through that, there’s a running back or a quarterback in his sights.
Williams, as his three consecutive Pro Bowl appearances [2012-14] will attest, has done this very well as he heads into his 11th season, and is proud and thankful that he’s been able to do so as a Buffalo Bill.
“Our fan base is as passionate as anybody in the league and I would really acquaint them to LSU fans,” Williams said. “I feel like I played for, if not the most, one of the two or three most passionate fan bases in the country in college, and I feel like I walked into a situation that’s very similar here but only at the NFL level.
“Our fans live and breathe with Buffalo Bills football. So you’re representing them and all the relationships I’ve developed over the years with guys in the front office, in the training room. You also represent those guys. And then last, but not least, your teammates. Everything you do, you do for your teammates and you do with your teammates.”
Over the years, Williams’ teammates have respected the way he carries himself on and off the field. He is mindful of the responsibilities that come with being a team leader and cherishes the role.
“You have to set an example for young guys,” Williams said. “You have to correct guys when correction is needed. You need to be tough on guys when they need to be gotten on to. I think all of that rolls into one. A true leader has to be able to discern the circumstances of what different guys need.
“I don’t think it’s really that much different from a coach. Players react and players adjust to certain ways that they’re coached and I think it’s the same way with a leader. What do you need to do to get this guy going? How do you need to challenge that guy? Do you need to wrap your arms around that guy? Being in the locker room and getting to know each one of those guys, you get a feel for it. I really just try to impart what I’ve learned to the guys and hopefully they kind of take it and run with it for their individual careers, but also for our team’s success.”
Williams missed 10 games during the 2015 season because of a knee injury. And even though he was still a part of the team, in a way, he wasn’t. Not being on the field for games or practices, there were times when he felt as if he was on the outside looking in.
“Even though I was here and I went to the meetings and all those type of things, you’re not on the practice field, you’re not on the trips with the team, you’re not in the locker room for the game,” Williams said. “You can help with preparation up to that point, but you are a bit of an outsider. You’re kind of halfway in and halfway out.
“I’ve never really needed to be reminded how lucky I am with the opportunity to play this game so I never felt like I needed it taken away from me whether it be from injury or being waived or anything like that to be reminded that it’s a blessing and I’m lucky to do it. So it was a tough year. Obviously, I’m not wired to watch.
“I’m working hard right now to be back in the middle of it and get ready to go for this year. I’m getting there. I’m still kind of on the last stages of rehab. The plan is to take it slow through the OTAs and kind of build through training camp and get ready for September.”
This past March, Williams was honored with the Call to Courage Award. Hosted by the Buffalo Pro Ministry of Athletes in Action, the annual award is presented by former Buffalo Bills quarterback Frank Reich. It is given to a current NFL player who has exemplified outstanding character, commitment to their Christian faith and leadership on and off the field and in the community.
“To be the only Buffalo Bill while he was still playing to get the award and to represent our organization with an award that’s based on a guy that played for this organization is a big deal. I was really blessed to be able to accept that award on me and my family and the Buffalo Bills organization’s behalf. It was a great honor and not something that I take lightly.”
A leader and role model on the field, in the locker room and in the community, at home Williams is both of those as well as a dad.
“I have five kids, (ages) nine, seven, five, three and one,” said Williams. “I want to model the behavior and the character that I want my kids to show. Am I perfect? Absolutely not. But I want to model it and show it because you never know who is watching. And I want other people to model and show it because you never know when my kids are watching them.
“My older ones, they know about football. When it gets cold, dad plays football. And when it gets hot it’s almost time to play football. They’re on to it. My five-year-old, he gets it a little bit. My little guys, they don’t have a clue what’s going on.
“Like I said before, it’s really an honor and a blessing to be able to do this. Not everybody gets to experience this, so I want to share it with my family and with my kids and let them hopefully take some memories from it.”
And what’s the best thing about being Kyle Williams today?
“Well, I think the great thing is no matter how good or bad practice goes or how good or bad the game goes or if my knee hurts from rehab, when I walk in my door I have a wife who loves me and I have five kids that really don’t care anything about how the game went or how practice went,” Williams said. “They know that dad’s home and they love dad. They want dad to play with them and they want to tell dad about their day. It’s really just kind of; I wouldn’t say an eye-opener, but just kind of a level for life.
“With the ups and downs of playing in the NFL, the stress and the anxiety of it, I have an opportunity to have it all washed away when I walk in the door. Because it’s let me tell you about what happened in art class or what I did today or did you know that Superman can fly? Getting told those universal truths when I get home every day is the best thing about being me.”