“I think there’s only two guys at my position who were 100-sack guys or close to it,” Williams said, referring to Warren Sapp’s 96½ and John Randle’s 137½. “But my numbers are better than a lot of guys in there.”
Former Patriots tackle Richard Seymour was inducted in 2022, his fifth year of eligibility. He had one fewer first-team All-Pro selection than Williams.
Williams played 203 games in 13 seasons. Seymour played 164 games in 12 seasons. Williams has more sacks (63-57½), tackles (528-498), tackles for loss (113-91), quarterback hits (90-79), forced fumbles (10-4), fumble recoveries (13-8), passes defensed (73-39), interceptions (5-2) and defensive touchdowns (4-1).
“But,” Williams adds, “he’s got me in Super Bowls [3-0], I guess.”
Vikings defensive lineman Kevin Williams, left, and Jared Allen during training camp in 2013. “Kevin was an absolute beast,” Allen said recently. (Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
The other defenders from the 2000s all-decade team not in the Hall of Fame are tackle La’Roi Glover, linebacker Joey Porter and safety Darren Sharper, a former Viking who’s in prison serving a 20-year term after pleading guilty or no contest to drugging and raping women in four states. He could be released as early as 2028.
Williams also played on five top-three run defenses, including a Vikings defense that ranked No. 1 from 2006-08 and No. 2 in 2009 on its way to the NFC Championship Game.