Doug Williams, who left five seasons ago as coach at Grambling to become a personnel executive with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, understands the opportunity he’s been given with a recent promotion.
The last coordinator of pro scouting at Tampa is now the club’s general manager.
“It gives you another move up the steps,” said Williams, drafted out of Grambling by the Bucs, where he played from 1978-82. “It’s not the ultimate step, but you’ve got step some where.”
The journey started with a pair of league titles under late coaching legend Eddie Robinson at GSU, where Williams garnered Heisman consideration despite playing for a tiny historically black college. Next was a trip through the now-defunct USFL before his stint with the Washington Redskins in 1986-89 — at first as a backup. Williams took over as Joe Gibbs’ team surged toward Super Bowl XXII, then put on an MVP performance in the title match. He threw four touchdown throws in the second quarter of Washington’s 42-10 win over the Denver Broncos, establishing Super Bowl records that day for passing yards and longest TD pass.
Later, Williams returned as coach at his alma mater, leading Grambling to a trio of Southwestern Athletic Conference titles in 2000-02 despite taking over a program that had lost 22 games in the three seasons before his arrival.
Each time, Williams showed the canny ability to make the most of an opportunity.
He told me his new duties will include coordinating college and pro workouts, monitoring NFL transactions and signing free agents — a critical element in today’s turnover-tossed league.
Do all of that well, as current Bucs’ GM Mark Dominik had as director of pro scouting, and it could open the door for advancement into the highest reaches of NFL management. It’s a dream come true for Williams, who arrived in Tampa in 2004 when current head man Raheem Morris’ meteoric rise was still at the assistant-defensive-backs-coach stage.
“Raheem told me that there is no way a 32-year-old black head coach is going to go anywhere without Doug Williams,” the Grambling legend said, chuckling. “I’ve been working together with our new general manager for the last five years, as well. It was an easy transition.”
Williams will appear at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on Thursday, Feb. 12, as part of the museum’s celebration of Black History Month. An exhibit at the hall called “The African American Experience in the Pro Football” includes a series of featured artifacts from black stars in the NFL, including Williams’ helmet from his rookie season with the Buccaneers.
No comments yet.