Former Texas All-American offensive tackle Mike Williams, number 63, returned to Austin last week for a massive homecoming, stepping onto Royal-Memorial Stadium grounds as one of 13 new inductees into the Texas Athletics Hall of Honor. This was a huge moment for a guy whose pro career was tragically cut short by blood clots and who later had to recover from a stroke.
A Quarter Century Later, The Memories Flood Back
Walking into the stadium last Friday for the 2026 Hall of Honor class induction, Williams said the memories just flooded back, like it was yesterday. This guy was a foundational piece in Mack Brown’s first recruiting class, helping kick off the Longhorns’ rebirth as a national power a quarter century ago. He remembered everything: showing up in Austin, initially recruited as a defensive lineman, even though he was dead set on Baylor. He talked about the raw grief of 2001, when he and his teammates grappled with the tragic vehicular death of defensive lineman Cole Pittman. Williams loved playing for Mack Brown, that family atmosphere the head coach built. He still remembers Brown sitting on the floor at his house during recruiting, so comfortable, saying, “How could I not go to Texas?” It’s been 24 years since he was last there, but at 46 years old, living in Virginia Beach, Va., with his wife, stepchildren Dawson and Macy, and daughter Mia, it all felt fresh. He joked to his family while driving around campus, “This is where I played, that’s where I went to class,” though he noted the stadium “has changed completely.”
NFL Dreams Cut Short, But Not Broken
Williams was a first-round NFL draft pick, heading to the Buffalo Bills, but his professional career was short. After four injury-filled seasons with the Bills and a brief one-year stint with Washington, blood clots ended his time in the league. It’s a tough break, but he holds no regrets, saying, “I wish it could have been longer.” He’s still got love for his time in New York, stating, “Buffalo was great. I love me some Buffalo.” His shortened time there didn’t leave him bitter at all; if anything, it sounds like it just made him stronger.
The Hall of Famer With Unfinished Business
Here’s the kicker, the part that really makes you cheer for the guy. When Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte called last June to give him the Hall of Honor news, he popped the question: “Did you get your degree?” Williams had to admit he hadn’t finished his sociology degree with a minor in business. But that’s changing! Del Conte kidded him, saying Texas can’t have a Hall of Honor inductee without a diploma, and that lit a fire under the former lineman. The plan is to complete his degree online. He even good-naturedly joked about his niece Jada going to Oklahoma and nephew Emory at Texas A&M, adding with a laugh, “I failed somewhere.” The entire weekend of festivities, which included Texas’ win over UTSA on Saturday, really rekindled those heartfelt emotions and gave him a fresh outlook.
So now, after all the accolades, the health battles, and the return to his old stomping grounds, Mike Williams has a new goal: finishing that degree. It’s an awesome next chapter for a guy who’s already overcome so much. We’ll be rooting for him!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply