Super Bowl: Showcasing the Cleveland Browns alum in the big game
By Chad Porto
CB K’Waun Williams (49ers)
K’Waun Williams came out of Paterson, NJ and made a mark on the local area with his talent in football. As a three-star recruit according to Rivals.com, Williams ended up heading to Pittsburgh, where he’d play football. When the 2014 Draft came around, Williams was not highly rated at all, ranking only 92nd for cornerbacks prospects in the draft that year.
He came out and was offered tryouts from the Pittsburg Steelers and the Cleveland Browns after failing to get drafted. Despite playing his college ball in Pittsburg, Williams opted to sign with the Cleveland Browns instead, citing his relationship with former Pitt recruiter Jeff Hafley. Hafley and Williams spent a great deal of time at Pitt together, as Hafley was also William’s position coach.
Williams’ stint in Cleveland ended rather unceremoniously. After playing regular minutes in two seasons with the team, and starting in ten games, Williams was viewed as the team’s top Nickle corner, but Williams opted to sit out the preseason opener due to an injury. The injury was something the team didn’t agree with and Williams was eventually suspended. He was eventually told he had bone spurs and needed to have them removed, but not before the Browns released him several weeks after the suspension was handed down.
After missing time and never landing on with a team for the 2016 season, Williams returned to the field in a similar role with the San Francisco 49ers. He now serves as one of their primary defensive-secondary players and has started 24 games over his three seasons with the team.