There’s More To Marcus Williams
THE SETUP
Marcus Williams choked back tears as he answered questions from reporters, following the New Orleans Saints’ shocking exit from the playoffs.
“I knew the situation,” Williams said. “You gotta make sure you make the play.”
The play was his to make.
The Saints held a 24-23 lead over the Minnesota Vikings, following a 43-yard field goal by Will Lutz.
On their own 39-yard line, with just 10 seconds remaining, it seemed a miracle was necessary for the Vikings to have an opportunity to “Bring It Home” this season.
Case Keenum took the snap from rookie center Pat Elflein, dropped back to pass for the 40th time of the day, and threw a tenth ball Stefon Diggs’ way.
What happened next has since been dubbed “Seven Heaven.”
Diggs made a leaping grab, landed on his left foot, stumbled slightly, recovered, and took the ball 35 yards for the game-winning score.
A 61-yard touchdown pass to end the game, and send Minnesota to Philadelphia for an NFC Championship matchup versus the No. 1 seed Eagles, was made possible by Williams who was looking to make a big play, but instead found himself on the wrong end of NFL history.
It was all cheers and smiles for the Viking faithful, but the Saints’ sideline was a much different story.
Shock, disbelief and sadness.
Amid the cheers, Williams drifted towards the Saints’ locker room. Initially he didn’t make it, falling to his knees, reliving the disastrous moment that had just cost his team a chance at the Super Bowl.
MORE THAN A PLAY
This is the story of a 21-year-old free safety.
Marcus Alan Williams doesn’t drink, smoke, or swear.
Williams grew up in the Southern California city of Eastvale. He is the youngest of four boys born to Sylvester and Franschell, and a practicing Jehovah’s Witness.
He played both football and basketball for Eleanor Roosevelt High School, but ultimately chose the field over the blacktop.
A three-star recruit at receiver, Williams had 41 catches for 924 yards and nine touchdowns, but no scholarship offers had materialized through the first half of his senior year.
“It motivated me a lot,” Williams told Joel Erickson of The New Orleans Advocate. “Being able to overcome the adversity that came my way. I just kept pushing.”
An injury to a teammate presented Williams with an opportunity to play defense.
In his debut at safety, Williams reeled in three interceptions, flipping the script on his football career – and his life.
The next day, the offers finally started coming in.
San Diego State, Nevada, Washington, California, Boise State and Utah were all interested in the young prospect, who had finally found his natural position.
Williams ultimately picked the University of Utah and head coach Kyle Whittingham, who had been with the school since 1994.
The coaching staff quickly became believers in the 6’1″ safety.
“Don’t ask me why teams didn’t love him,” Utah defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley said. “We did.”
Williams immediately impressed his coaches as his work ethic and skill propelled him to the top of the depth chart in his freshman season.
Over the course of three years, Williams’ 188 total tackles, 11 interceptions and four forced fumbles put him high on the radar of NFL front offices.
He decided to forgo his senior season at Utah and declared for the 2017 NFL Draft, where he was projected as a first or second round pick.
The Saints addressed their secondary with the 11th overall pick in the draft, choosing cornerback Marshon Lattimore, out of Ohio State University. The team also had the 32nd pick, after trading receiver Brandin Cooks to the New England Patriots, which it used to grab offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyc, out of Wisconsin.
Williams watched as three safeties came off the board in the first round.
On the second day of the draft, after two more safeties were selected, Saints legend and Hall of Fame kicker Morten Andersen stepped up to the microphone.
“With the 42nd pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the N’Oleans Saints select Marcus Williams,” Andersen said. “Defensive back – Utah.”
ROOKIE SEASON
Williams rose to the top of the depth chart in New Orleans by outperforming second-year safety Vonn Bell.
His first professional interception came off a deflected pass from Cam Newton in Week 3. Williams dove, making a one-handed, underhanded grab, that the NFL’s YouTube channel dubbed “Insane.” He had his first Red Zone interception against reigning MVP Matt Ryan in Week 12.
It was a Week 17 matchup against the nothing-to-lose Tampa Bay Buccaneers, when Williams really shined. He jumped a Mike Evans route, in the first quarter, tallying his first pick of Jameis Winston. He then made an end zone catch for his second-career Red Zone interception. He also recorded a career-high eight tackles.
Williams finished the regular season with 71 total tackles, four interceptions and seven defended passes, starting all 15 games he played in.
The 11-5 Saints won the NFC South, making the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
New Orleans faced Carolina in the Wild Card round and came away with its third-straight victory over the Panthers. Williams again tallied eight tackles, defending one pass, in the 31-26 victory.
The Saints got off to a slow start against the Vikings, finding themselves in a 17-7 hole, late in the third quarter. The tide turned when Williams made a pivotal interception of Keenum, which allowed Drew Brees and company to capitalize with a touchdown.
Lutz’s late field goal had Saints’ head coach Sean Payton feeling good, up 24-23 with just 25 seconds left in the game.
Then – disaster.
THE AFTERMATH
Williams, whose final stat line included five tackles, two defended passes and an interception, made it to the locker room and burst into tears. He fought through them to answer questions, then boarded the team plane back to Louisiana.
Few sports teams share the kind of bond with their cities that the Saints share with New Orleans. So, it wasn’t surprising to see droves of fans flood the airport at 1:00 A.M. on Monday morning, when the team arrived home.
Many held signs thanking the Saints for such an excellent season, with one reading, “LOVE YOU MARCUS.”
OPINION
This is not a defining moment for Williams, who was named to the league’s all-rookie team on Wednesday. No, this is a forgettable and yet teachable moment for a young man who has a very bright future in the NFL.
