Madieu Williams
Encyclopedia
Madieu Mohammed Williams (born October 18, 1981) is an American football
safety for the San Francisco 49ers
of the National Football League
. He was originally drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals
in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Maryland
.
He has also played for the Minnesota Vikings
.
at age nine, went to DuVal High School
in Lanham, Maryland, attended Towson University
and the University of Maryland
.
, Williams contributed early by playing in all 16 games. He finished the season with 103 tackles, 11 pass delfections, two sacks, and three interceptions. He returned one of the interceptions for a touchdown.
In 2005, Williams only played in 4 games, missing the other 12 due to injury. He did, however, record 23 tackles and an interception.
In 2006, Williams returned to play all 16 games of the season. He finished the season with 90 tackles, 13 pass break-ups, two forced fumbles, and three interceptions.
In 2007, injuries again caused Williams to miss three games of the season. He finished up the season with 74 tackles, 7 pass deflections, two sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and two interceptions. He opened up the season with 10 tackles in the Monday Night Football
opener against the Baltimore Ravens
.
. He agreed to a six-year, $33 million contract. He missed the first 7 games of the 2008 season due to a neck injury he suffered during training camp. In his first game back he intercepted Sage Rosenfels
to wrap up the win for the Vikings. He finished the 2008 season with 42 tackles and 2 interceptions.
On July 28, 2011, he was released.
Recently, Madieu Williams was honored by Hall of Famer Franco Harris and Harris' company, R Super Foods, as their Cincinnati Super MVP.
In 2009, Williams donated $2 million to the University of Maryland to help create the Madieu Williams Center for Global Health Initiatives.
On February 6, 2011, Williams received the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
safety for the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was originally drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft
2004 NFL Draft
The 2004 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24-25, 2004 at the theater at Madison Square Garden...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Maryland
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
.
He has also played for the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
.
Early years
He moved to Lanham, MarylandLanham, Maryland
Lanham is an unincorporated community in Prince George's County in the State of Maryland in the United States of America. Because it is not formally incorporated, it has no official boundaries, but the United States Census Bureau has defined a census-designated place consisting of Lanham and the...
at age nine, went to DuVal High School
DuVal High School
DuVal Senior High School , is named in honor of Gabreil DuVal, a U.S. Representative from the second district of Maryland from November 11, 1794, to March 28, 1796, Chief Justice of the General Court of Maryland from 1796 to 1802, and First Comptroller of the U.S. Treasury from 1802 through 1811...
in Lanham, Maryland, attended Towson University
Towson University
Towson University, often referred to as TU or simply Towson for short, is a public university located in Towson in Baltimore County, Maryland, U.S...
and the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
.
Cincinnati Bengals
After being drafted in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati BengalsCincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
, Williams contributed early by playing in all 16 games. He finished the season with 103 tackles, 11 pass delfections, two sacks, and three interceptions. He returned one of the interceptions for a touchdown.
In 2005, Williams only played in 4 games, missing the other 12 due to injury. He did, however, record 23 tackles and an interception.
In 2006, Williams returned to play all 16 games of the season. He finished the season with 90 tackles, 13 pass break-ups, two forced fumbles, and three interceptions.
In 2007, injuries again caused Williams to miss three games of the season. He finished up the season with 74 tackles, 7 pass deflections, two sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and two interceptions. He opened up the season with 10 tackles in the Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
opener against the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
.
Minnesota Vikings
After spending his first four years with Cincinnati, Williams signed with Minnesota following the 2007 season2007 NFL season
The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30....
. He agreed to a six-year, $33 million contract. He missed the first 7 games of the 2008 season due to a neck injury he suffered during training camp. In his first game back he intercepted Sage Rosenfels
Sage Rosenfels
Sage Rosenfels is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Iowa State before he was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played with the Miami Dolphins from 2002–2005, the Houston Texans from...
to wrap up the win for the Vikings. He finished the 2008 season with 42 tackles and 2 interceptions.
On July 28, 2011, he was released.
Training methods
Madieu trains with an athletic group known as The Stable, to whom he has credited to his success stemming from his freshman year in high school. "This is home, and I feel good when I’m working out," said Williams, who’s headed into his fourth season. "It’s a lot of guys that put in a lot of work getting ready for whatever sport that they play. It’s a lot of camaraderie beyond us training."Community service
The Madieu Williams Foundation, founded in 2005, focuses on health, wellness, nutrition, fitness and education. Through his foundation, Madieu reaches out to youth and teaches them at an early age the importance of a healthy lifestyle.Recently, Madieu Williams was honored by Hall of Famer Franco Harris and Harris' company, R Super Foods, as their Cincinnati Super MVP.
In 2009, Williams donated $2 million to the University of Maryland to help create the Madieu Williams Center for Global Health Initiatives.
On February 6, 2011, Williams received the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award
Walter Payton Man of the Year Award
The Walter Payton Man of the Year award is given annually by the National Football League honoring a player's volunteer and charity work, as well as his excellence on the field. Prior to 1999, it was called simply the NFL Man of the Year Award...
.