Aeneas Williams
AllIdidwasgetoutthereandhustleonthefield,anditwaslikeitwaswhereIwasborntobe.
Aeneas Williams was a walk-on at Southern University and by his senior season he led the nation in interceptions. That was a precursor of what was to come. The Phoenix Cardinals drafted Williams in the third round, 59th player overall, of the 1991 NFL Draft.
Over the next 10 seasons with the Cardinals and four final years with the St. Louis Rams he established himself as one of the finest defensive backs ever to play. Williams starred at cornerback for the first 12 years of his career before he was moved to safety. He earned Pro Bowl nods at both positions, seven times at cornerback and once as a safety.
Williams had an impressive rookie season in 1991. He had his first career pick in his NFL debut, a game in which he also deflected four passes. He finished the year tied for the most interceptions in the NFC with six. Williams also recorded 17 passes defensed and added 48 tackles. For his efforts he was named the NFC Defensive Rookie of the Year by the NFL Players Association.
He earned a Pro Bowl nod and All-NFC acclaim for the first time in 1994 when he added another conference interception title with a career-high nine interceptions. Williams was also named first-team All-NFC in 1995, 1996, 1997, and 2001. He was selected to the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1990s.
Williams recorded an interception in every season but his last and had five or more picks in a season six times. He led the Cardinals in interceptions seven times and was the Rams leading interceptor in 2003. In all, he registered 55 interceptions which he returned for 807 yards. His nine pick-sixes tied him for second all-time at the time of his retirement. He also shared the NFL record for longest fumble return. He recovered a fumble on the opening drive and raced 104 yards for a touchdown to spur an upset of the Washington Redskins on Nov. 5, 2000.
His knack for the football was not only reserved for the regular season. He recorded an interception in a record four straight postseason games during a span from 1998 to 2001. Williams started at left cornerback for St. Louis in the 2001 NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl XXXVI.
