Erik Williams

Erik George Williams, born on September 7, 1968, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, carved out a distinguished career as an offensive tackle in the National Football League. His journey began at John Bartram High School, where poor grades initially hindered his NCAA Division I scholarship prospects. This led him to Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio. There, he transitioned from a defensive lineman to an offensive left tackle, becoming an All-American at the NAIA level. During his collegiate career from 1987 to 1990, Central State won 41 games, including an NAIA national championship in 1990, where Williams played a crucial role in an offense that averaged 492 yards and 54.8 points per game, setting an NAIA record for single-season points.

Williams was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round (70th overall) of the 1991 NFL Draft. He quickly made an impact, earning the starting right tackle position in 1992. His dominant performance, notably holding future Hall of Famer Reggie White to no sacks in a 1992 game, earned him the NFC Offensive Player of the Week award, a first for a Cowboys offensive lineman. Nicknamed “Big E” for his physical and aggressive style, he was widely regarded as a top offensive lineman in the NFL by 1993. His career with the Cowboys was marked by three Super Bowl championships (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX) and multiple All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections. He was a key component of “The Great Wall of Dallas,” the formidable offensive line that protected Troy Aikman and created lanes for Emmitt Smith.

A significant turning point occurred on October 24, 1994, when a serious car accident caused Williams to miss the remainder of the season due to multiple injuries, including torn knee ligaments. While he returned in 1995 to help the Cowboys win Super Bowl XXX, post-injury he never fully reached his previous dominant form, though he remained a starter and contributor. He continued with the Cowboys until his release in March 2001, later signing with the Baltimore Ravens in August 2001, where he played briefly in five games before being placed on the reserve-retired list in November 2001. Williams was inducted into the Central State University Sports Hall of Fame in 2010 and the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2020.