James Williams (cornerback)

Interceptions:	11
Forced fumbles:	1
Fumble recoveries:	4
Tackles:	134
	Stats at Pro Football Reference

James Williams
	Williams in 2024
Fresno State Bulldogs
Position:	Cornerbacks coach
Personal information
Born:	March 30, 1967 (age 57); Osceola, Arkansas, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:	185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school:	Coalinga (Coalinga, California)
College:	Fresno State
NFL draft:	1990 / round: 1 / pick: 16
Career history
As a player:
	Buffalo Bills (1990–1993); Arizona Cardinals (1994); Carolina Panthers (1995)*; San Francisco 49ers (1996);
	* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
	Fresno State (1997); Graduate assistant; Cal Poly (1998); Defensive backs; San Jose State (1999); Defensive backs; Fresno State (2000–2001); Defensive backs; California (2002–2005); Defensive backs; Washington (2006–2008); Defensive backs; Utah (2009); Defensive backs; UNLV (2010–2011); Assistant head coach/defensive backs; UNLV (2012); Assistant head coach/defensive coordinator; Georgia State (2013–2014); Special teams coordinator/defensive backs; UNLV (2015–2016); Defensive backs; Fresno State (2017–2019); Defensive backs; Fresno State (2020–present); Cornerbacks;
Career highlights and awards
	PFWA All-Rookie Team (1990); Third-team All-American (1989);
Career NFL statistics
Interceptions:
Interceptions:	11
Forced fumbles:	1
Fumble recoveries:	4
Tackles:	134
	Stats at Pro Football Reference

James Earl "J.D." Williams (born March 30, 1967) is an American football coach and former cornerback who is the cornerbacks coach for the Fresno State Bulldogs. He played college football at Fresno State and was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 1990 NFL draft.^[2] Williams played in six NFL seasons, from 1990 to 1994 and 1996 for the Bills, Arizona Cardinals, and San Francisco 49ers.^[3]

Williams was most notable for being the first player on the Buffalo Bills squad to don number 31, which had been "retired" to represent the spirit of the franchise. Since Williams wore the number, the Bills have allowed anyone to wear the 31 jersey; it was later worn by Dwayne Wright, who like Williams, went to Fresno State. Jairus Byrd wore the number before becoming a free agent; he used it because his college number, 32, was unofficially retired because of O. J. Simpson.

After retiring from football, Williams became a football coach beginning in 1997 as a graduate assistant at Fresno State.^[4]

Pre-draft measurables
Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	20-yard shuttle	Vertical jump	Broad jump	Bench press
5 ft 9+7⁄8 in (1.77 m)	172 lb (78 kg)	29+3⁄4 in (0.76 m)	8+1⁄4 in (0.21 m)	4.34 s	1.55 s	2.54 s	4.03 s	38.0 in (0.97 m)	10 ft 9 in (3.28 m)	9 reps

References

^ 49ers, 1996 Media Guide (PDF). p. 138.
^ "1990 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
^ "James Williams Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
^ "J.D. Williams". Fresno State. January 15, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.

External links

James Williams on Twitter

This biographical article relating to an American football defensive back born in the 1960s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] 49ers, 1996 Media Guide (PDF). p. 138.

[2] "1990 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2023.

[3] "James Williams Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.

[Fresno_State-4] "J.D. Williams". Fresno State. January 15, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.

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