IFL Bay Area Panthers

Panthers Sign Wide Receiver Jordan Williams

Published on January 19, 2023 under Indoor Football League (IFL)
Bay Area Panthers News Release


With a resume that includes NFL minicamp, three arena football teams and a novelty league that's a cross between indoor football and a video game, Jordan Williams has a simple reason for his persistence in chasing his dreams to sign with the Bay Area Panthers.

He does it for his mother.

"I've never seen her quit. I've never seen her give up.", said Williams "Ive never seen her take a day off from work even if she's sick. So when I'm on the field and hurt with a bruise on my thigh or my shoulder hurt, I think back and can't quit because my mom never quits. That's instilled in me. I just can't give up."

The 28-year-old Williams heads to California with three years of indoor experience, starting with the Albany Empire in 2018 where he first crossed paths with Rob Keefe, now the Panthers defensive coordinator. The stay in Albany preceded stops in Philadelphia and Jacksonville.

Keefe reached out to Williams to play at Northern Arizona but at the time was focused on getting ready for an XFL showcase. Now the time has come for them to reconnect.

"He's high energy, loves to win and is a player's coach. He always looks out for his guys and the people around him," said Williams, "I miss that competition every day and that level of professionalism that he brings to the game each and every morning. I fell in love with how he works when we were in Albany and I knew one day our paths would cross again. He's a winner and that's all I want to do is win."

Williams played started his collegiate career at Edinboro Unversity before wanting a greater challenge at Liberty after two seasons. After a redshirt season, he was converted to defensive back, making two starts before switching back to wide receiver for spring ball.

At the FCS level, Liberty was only able to offer a half scholarship, making it economically unworkable. So Williams transferred back to Edinboro for a renaissance turnaround and a 9-2 season.

Although his time was short at Liberty, the experience was critical in developing a professional mindset.

"That kind of woke up the spark to play at a high level and that you have to take it up a notch," said Williams. "You have to sacrifice some things that the average person wouldn't sacrifice. You sacrifice going out with your friends and spending money on certain things. So I try to get my body in the best shape it could be, eat the right food because any day you can get the call. You have to be ready for it."

In 2017, Williams got an NFL taste with the Buffalo Bills at minicamp. It was a learning experience that left a lasting impression.

"In the NFL, they hand you a big stack of papers like a bible...the terminology was different. I didn't know where I was playing so I studied everything," said Williams. "The first time doing that, it was kind of overwhelming the first day. Once I started to get the hang of it, I started to see success.

"So wherever I've been I want to know how fast I can get the playbook. If you don't know the plays, you can't play. The one thing about football is when you're out there thinking, you're not playing football. You want to be free and want to be flowing. That whole experience got me into being with the playbook, studying the playbook, watching film and being on top of my game."

To stay ready, Williams played a season with Fan Controlled Football, an indoor league where fans with an app call the plays, making the sport an interactive experience. One of his teammates was NFL legend Terrell Owens.

"To watch him train and prepare for games with a trainer he brought got me," said Williams. "Just to pick his brain about football and knowledge of the game. For his age (now 49), it looks like he could still play right now...He's still got the juice."

Williams still has plenty of juice, grounded in a faith that tells him he's not defined by what he does as an athlete.

"You've got to pass the eye test. You've got to put up the numbers and sometimes it doesn't work in your favor and you get down on yourself because it's a production based business. But at the end of the day, you have to understand who you serve...I just know my validation doesn't come from the game of football. It's already been validated."

Although Williams will be an IFL rookie, he brings veteran leadership and life experience. His on-field coaches will be Darren Arbet, Dixie Wooten and Rob Keefe but his mother is always the driving force.

"When I was young, it was just the two of us. She worked three jobs so I could have the new cleats and new gloves. Being able to have that swag on the field and she let me play whatever I wanted to play-football, baseball, basketball, hockey, whatever. She has such determination to be the best mom she could be and that drives me."

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Indoor Football League Stories from January 19, 2023


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