XFL San Antonio Brahmas

San Antonio's Jordan Williams' Journey from Second-To-Last Pick to XFL's Leading Tackler

March 31, 2023 - XFL (XFL)
San Antonio Brahmas News Release


San Antonio Brahmas defensive backs coach Corey Chamblin isn't Jordan Williams' position coach. But the former Grey Cup-winning coach sparked the fire that has turned Williams into the XFL's leading tackler.

Chamblin sat down with Williams one day and challenged him: "You here to make $50,000 or are you here to make $750,000?"

"That changed my whole outlook on everything," Williams said. "I have to pick it up back to how it was when I was trying to make this team, not when I made the team. I'm still in that hungry mode so I'm not getting complacent."

It wasn't that Williams wasn't having a good season. Through the first three weeks, he was tied for the team lead in tackles, averaging just under six per game.

But Chamblin believed there was more to his game - much more.

Over the last three weeks, Williams is averaging a monstrous 12.3 tackles per game. This past weekend against the Arlington Renegades, Williams finished with 14 tackles and three tackles for loss.

But there's still another level Williams can reach. Brahmas head coach Hines Ward said Williams "could have had 25 tackles" if he didn't miss a few.

"I wish I could have 22 J-Wills," Ward said. "I just love his excitement, the energy that he brings, the mindset of coming out here."

Williams was not one of San Antonio's high-profile draft picks - or even a medium-profile or low-profile selection. The 5-foot-11 linebacker was chosen with the second-to-last pick of the Supplemental Draft in January.

The selection came in the 16 th round. The Brahmas were the only team even picking at that time. They could have ended the draft that round without selecting Williams. But they got lucky and as Ward puts it, Williams "just happened to fall on our team."

While he flew well under the radar in the draft, Williams does have a Power Five pedigree. He played at Baylor University, where he started 26 games over his four seasons.

During his redshirt senior campaign in 2019, Williams helped the Bears to a 11-3 record and appearances in the Big 12 Championship Game and the Sugar Bowl.

While he didn't get the same recognition as others on the Baylor defense, Williams' three-down skill set was apparent. He was second on the team with 89 total tackles and tied for third with 9.5 tackles for loss. In the passing game, he had a team-best eight passes defended and second-best three interceptions.

But that was the last time before this season Williams played in competitive football games. He kicked around camps in the NFL and CFL but had never been given an opportunity to make an impact.

"I'm trying to take advantage of this whole opportunity," Williams said. "I haven't really played a real football game in like three years. This right here is feeling like I'm back in middle school again, getting back into the groove of it all."

What stands out to both Ward and San Antonio linebackers coach Joey Porter - a two-time NFL All-Pro selection and NFL 2000s All-Decade Team member - is Williams' ability to stay on the field. He's an every-down linebacker, comfortable defending the rush as he is dropping back into coverage.

Porter said in today's football landscape - both in the XFL and the NFL - where passing is emphasized, linebackers like Williams are crucial.

"You need a fast linebacker who doesn't have to come off the field," Porter said. "He fits what we try to do on defense. He's a linebacker that you can leave on the field the whole time."

Williams leads the XFL with 54 total tackles. Two other players - Arlington's Donald Payne and Houston Roughnecks linebacker Emmanuel Ellerbee - have tackle totals in the 40s. But after that nobody else has more than 36. He is also tied for second in the league with seven tackles for loss.

Ward said his "tackling machine" has a great attitude to go along with his high football IQ, innate ability to find the football and positive attitude.

"There's a reason why he's the leading tackler in XFL," Ward said. "He puts a lot of work into his craft and we're glad to have him. He's been phenomenal for us."

Even with his gaudy numbers, the 25-year-old linebacker's biggest play wasn't a tackle or stop but a fumble recovery this past weekend against the Renegades.

Delontae Scott striped Arlington quarterback Drew Plitt around the 45-yard line. Williams recovered the loose ball and ran it into the end zone untouched.

The scoop-and-score was San Antonio's only touchdown of the game as the Brahmas won 15-9. Williams also said it was his first defensive touchdown.

"The only thing I got to work on," Williams said, "I ain't got no celebrations."

The Brahmas will try for their second straight victory at 3 p.m. EDT Saturday against the Vegas Vipers on ESPN2.

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