Evan Williams Bio
Evan Williams (born July 28, 2001) is an American professional football safety for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He plays the safety position in the secondary and is considered one of the promising young defensive backs to enter the league in recent seasons. Before turning professional, Williams played college football for the Fresno State Bulldogs and the Oregon Ducks, building a reputation as a hard-hitting defender with strong instincts.
Selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, Williams quickly earned a starting role in Green Bay and finished his rookie year with recognition from the Pro Football Writers of America. His path from a Northern California high school to a starting NFL safety reflects steady development across multiple college programs.
Early Life and Background
Evan Williams was born on July 28, 2001, in Los Gatos, California, in the heart of the San Francisco Bay Area. Growing up in Northern California placed him near a region with a strong football culture and a deep pipeline of athletes who advance to the college and professional ranks.
Williams attended Saint Francis High School in Mountain View, California, where he played high school football and developed into a college-level prospect. His size and physical approach to the game drew attention from several college programs, and he ultimately committed to play college football for the Fresno State Bulldogs, beginning his collegiate career in the Mountain West Conference.
Path to American Football
Williams began his collegiate career at Fresno State, where he played from 2019 through the 2022 season. During his time with the Bulldogs, he steadily increased his role and production, transitioning from a contributor as a freshman into one of the top defensive players in the Mountain West Conference by his junior season.
After the 2022 season, Williams decided to enter the NCAA transfer portal to test his value in a Power Five conference. He transferred to the University of Oregon, joining the Ducks for his final season of college eligibility. The move gave him the chance to compete against higher-level competition and raised his visibility in front of NFL scouts, setting the stage for his professional career.
Evan Williams Career
Early Career (2019–2022)
In his first collegiate season at Fresno State in 2019, Williams totaled 40 tackles, two pass deflections, an interception, a fumble recovery, and a forced fumble. He continued to develop in 2020, finishing that season with 27 tackles and a forced fumble, which earned him an honorable mention on the all-Mountain West football team.
By 2021, Williams had become a central figure in the Fresno State defense. He recorded 92 tackles, with four and a half going for a loss, along with three interceptions, and was named first-team all-Mountain West. In 2022, he added 69 tackles, six tackles for loss, a sack, and four pass deflections, earning second-team all-Mountain West recognition before entering the transfer portal.
Oregon Ducks Breakthrough (2023)
Williams transferred to play for the Oregon Ducks for the 2023 season. In his lone year with the program, he led the team with 82 tackles, while also contributing five tackles for loss, four and a half sacks, two pass deflections, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble.
His impact on the Pac-12 level was immediate and significant. For his performance during the 2023 season, Williams was named second-team all-Pac-12, reinforcing his status as an NFL prospect and setting up his decision to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft.
Green Bay Packers Era (2024–Present)
Williams was selected 111th overall by the Green Bay Packers in the 2024 NFL Draft. He was the second of three safeties drafted by the Packers that year, joining a remade safety room headlined by prized free-agent signing Xavier McKinney. On May 14, 2024, Williams signed his contract with the Packers.
By Week 4 of his rookie season, Williams had earned the starting safety job opposite McKinney, moving ahead of fellow rookie Javon Bullard, a second-round pick who shifted to the slot and nickel corner position. His strong play during his first year was recognized with a selection to the PFWA All-Rookie Team, marking him as one of the standout first-year defensive players in the league.
Driving Style and Strengths
Williams is recognized for his physical tackling, range in the secondary, and ability to contribute near the line of scrimmage. His college production included tackles for loss, sacks, and fumble recoveries, showing versatility beyond traditional deep-coverage safety duties. Pairing with veteran Xavier McKinney has allowed him to play with confidence and freedom in the Green Bay defensive scheme.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Williams’s career is his ascent to a starting safety role as a rookie in the NFL, an uncommon achievement for a Day 3 draft pick. His PFWA All-Rookie Team selection, along with his team-leading tackle total in his only season at Oregon, highlights the consistency that has defined his development.
Evan Williams Career Wins
Evan Williams’s career has been built more on consistent defensive production and individual recognition than on team championship wins. His primary honors include first-team all-Mountain West in 2021, second-team all-Mountain West in 2022, second-team all-Pac-12 in 2023, and a PFWA All-Rookie Team nod in 2024.
College Highlights
Across his time at Fresno State and Oregon, Williams posted four seasons of strong tackle totals, including a 92-tackle season in 2021 and a team-high 82 tackles in 2023. His three interceptions in 2021 and four and a half sacks in 2023 reflect his ability to impact the game in multiple ways.
Other Wins and Performances
Williams’s most recent individual honor came in 2024, when he was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team after becoming a starter for the Green Bay Packers. He also earned a starting role by Week 4, a notable achievement for a mid-round rookie.
Evan Williams Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Evan Williams comes from a family with connections to football at the collegiate and professional levels. His older brother, Bennett Williams, is a former defensive back who played for the Oregon Ducks and later in the Canadian Football League (CFL).
Personal Life
Public information about Evan Williams’s personal life centers on his football career and his family ties to the sport. His relationship with his brother Bennett Williams, who also played safety at Oregon, has been a notable connection throughout his development as a player.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Evan Williams is expected to retain a starting safety role for the Green Bay Packers, building on the foundation established during his 2024 rookie campaign. His partnership with Xavier McKinney in the secondary is likely to remain a key part of the team’s defensive structure.
After a rookie year that included a starting promotion by Week 4 and PFWA All-Rookie Team honors, Williams will be looked to for continued growth in coverage, tackling, and playmaking. The Packers’ investment in three rookie safeties in 2024 suggests the team values youth and competition in the defensive backfield.
Williams’s outlook for 2025 includes the opportunity to cement himself as a long-term starter and to expand his role in the Green Bay defense. With a full NFL offseason under his belt, he is positioned to take another step forward in his second professional season.