Ricky Williams
Ricky Williams
Errick Lynne "Ricky" Williams Jr.is a retired American football running back who played twelve seasons in the National Football Leagueand one season in the Canadian Football League. He played college football for the University of Texas, where he was a two-time All-American and won the Heisman Trophy. Williams was drafted by the New Orleans Saints fifth overall in the 1999 NFL Draft and spent three seasons with the team before he was traded to the Miami Dolphins in 2002. He...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionFootball Player
Date of Birth21 May 1977
CitySan Diego, CA
CountryUnited States of America
The NFL has been an amazing page in this chapter of my life. I pray that all successive adventures offer me the same potential for growth, success and most importantly fun.
I don't believe in regret.
I think I have a tendency to look at things subjectively rather than objectively when I reflect on my experience.
Coaches want so many things from a back. It's hard to find someone like Edgerrin James or Marshall Faulk, someone you can trust to block, catch and be physical. But I can do all those things.
I'm halfway intelligent. I'll figure something out.
It's funny, people say 'Welcome back' when I haven't gone anywhere.
My helmet is off; I'm not afraid anymore.
Football is my job, not my life, but it's a job I'm going to give my all for as long as I'm in it.
I am more mature. I'm a better football player. I just feel like this is my time.
I want people to think they can't die until they see me play.
I've always been shy, but in New Orleans there were times my shyness would cause me actual physical pain. I'd get so claustrophobic around people that I'd bend over from the sickness in my stomach. That's not a good way to be when you're famous, obviously.
One of the biggest things I've done is learn how to love myself, flaws and all. Even the things I don't like about myself, I accept. People have made fun of me and made me self-conscious about talking so softly, for example, but I accept that as who I am and I'm not changing it for anybody. I'm at peace with who I am now, and once you've achieved that, all the other stuff disappears.
If I was doing something for the money, I'd be quite miserable.
What I would tell young players is that as you get older, the best thing you can do is try to have other interests and have opportunities.