Trent Williams

Trent Williams (born July 19, 1988) is an American professional football offensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners, where he was recognized as an All-American, and was selected by the Washington Redskins fourth overall in the 2010 NFL draft. Williams is considered one of the greatest offensive tackles of all time, having made eleven Pro Bowls and four All-Pro teams.

In 2019, Williams held out the entire year with the Redskins due to contractual and personal grievances regarding a cancerous growth on his head downplayed by the team but later determined by private doctors to be life-threatening. The standoff eventually led to him being traded to the 49ers in 2020.

Born and raised in Longview, Texas, Williams attended Longview High School, where he played for the Longview Lobos high school football team and was teammates with Malcolm Kelly, Chris Ivory, and Robert Henson. Williams was a unanimous first-team all-district selection as a senior. Longview entered the 2005 UIL playoffs on a 10–0 season record, but lost 14–13 to Nick Florence's South Garland. He was also on the field team as a shot putter. Considered a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, Williams was listed as the No. 28 offensive guard prospect in the nation. He chose Oklahoma over offers from Louisiana State, Oklahoma State, and Texas A&M.

Williams attended the University of Oklahoma, and played for coach Bob Stoops's Oklahoma Sooners football team from 2006 to 2009. Playing as a true freshman, Williams became the starter at right tackle just before the Missouri game in late October 2006 after Branndon Braxton went down with a broken leg, then started the last six games of the season. Williams played 462 snaps, had 75 knockdowns, and was named to The Sporting News Freshman All-American second-team.

In his sophomore year, Williams saw action in all 14 games and had six starts at right tackle, sharing time with Branndon Braxton. As a junior in 2008, he started all 14 games, the first at left tackle and the remaining 13 at right tackle, and registered 131 knockdowns. He was part of a dominant 2008 Sooners offensive line that included Duke Robinson, Phil Loadholt, and allowed only 11 sacks all season, the third-lowest total of any team in the country. The two teams that finished above them (Air Force and Navy) combined to attempt 231 passes. Oklahoma attempted 476, and—featuring quarterback Sam Bradford and running back DeMarco Murray—became the highest-scoring team in the modern era (702 points).

As the lone holdover from the 2008 offensive line, Williams was listed at No. 2 on Rivals.com's 2009 preseason offensive tackle power ranking. He was also named to the 2009 Outland Trophy watch list. Despite missing the regular season finale due to injury, Williams led Oklahoma with 102 knockdown blocks and 885 plays, and was named an All-American by the American Football Coaches Association.

Williams was considered one of the best offensive tackles available in the 2010 NFL draft, and drew comparisons to Jammal Brown (who, coincidentally, would also join the Redskins that same offseason via trade). According to NFL.com's Gil Brandt, "Williams will be a first-round pick and can be a long-time starter in the NFL".

Williams was selected in the first round with the fourth overall pick by the Washington Redskins. He agreed to a six-year, US$60 million contract on July 30, 2010. In 2011, Williams was made an offensive co-captain along with veteran teammate Santana Moss. In Week 14, Williams and teammate Fred Davis were suspended for four games after failing several drug tests.