Joe Williams (running back)

Joe Williams (born March 30, 1947) is a former American football running back of the National Football League.^[1] He was drafted out of Wyoming and earned a Super Bowl ring in his first year in the league as a member of the 1972 Super Bowl VI-winning Dallas Cowboys under coach Tom Landry.^[2] He also played for the New Orleans Saints and finished with 139 career rushing yards and 175 yards receiving.

Early years

As a senior co-captain playing for the University of Wyoming, he was one of the fourteen African American players that were dismissed from the team after threatening to wear black armbands during a game against BYU, to protest the racial policies of the LDS church.^[3][4]

At the time of the incident (known as the "Black 14"), the Cowboys were undefeated (4-0) and ranked 12th in the nation. Even though Wyoming beat BYU 40-7 and San Jose State University the next game without the players, it would lose its last four games of 1969 and went 1-9 the next year, which prompted the school to fire head coach Lloyd Eaton.^[5] The incident also affected the University to successfully recruit African American players for several years.

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Williams was selected in the 12th round (309th overall) of the 1970 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. As a rookie he was used sparingly and spent time on the taxi squad. He was traded to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for a fourth round draft choice,^[6] which the team would use to select Tim Kearney.

New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints acquired Williams in a trade, after he averaged seven yards on six carries against them in preseason.^[7] After starting three games, he was waived in June 1973.^[8]

Los Angeles Rams

The Los Angeles Rams claimed him off waivers on June 19, 1973,^[9] before releasing him on August 29.^[10]

References