Grambling State University’s record-breaking quarterback (1974-77), Doug Williams, the first Black quarterback to play in and emerge victorious in a Super Bowl (Washington Redskins, Super Bowl XXII), has been promoted by the Redskins to senior vice president of player personnel.
The 20-year NFL veteran, who rejoined his former team in 2014 as part of the personnel department, also stands as a member of the 80 Greatest Redskins and a Redskins Ring of Famer. Williams played with the Redskins from 1986-89 and led the team in a 42-10 rout of the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII, also garnering MVP honors.
Williams, a first-round pick by Tampa Bay in the 1978 NFL Draft (No. 17 overall), led the Buccaneers to the first three playoff appearances in team history. In 1986, the Redskins traded for Williams’ rights following two seasons with the USFL’s Oklahoma Outlaws. In Williams’ Super Bowl XXII MVP performance following the 1987 season, he set or tied several Super Bowl passing records, including most TD passes (four), most yards passing (340), longest pass completion (80 yards) and longest TD pass (80 yards).
He started his college head coaching career at Morehouse College in 1997 before returning to his alma mater. In six seasons during his first tenure (1998-2003) at his beloved Grambling State, Williams brought one of the most storied programs in college football history back to prominence, compiling a 52-18 record as head coach after succeeding the legendary Eddie Robinson. Williams led the Tigers to three consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference titles from 2000-02 as they were named National Black College Champions during the same three-year span and he was named SWAC Coach of the Year in each of those seasons. He rejoined the program for three seasons from 2011-13, including earning the SWAC title in his first season back in 2011.
In 2005, Williams and Shack Harris established The Shack Harris & Doug Williams Foundation, providing grants for after-school initiatives, leadership development, mentoring programs and minority higher education assistance for economically disadvantaged youth. In March of 2009, the foundation put on its first annual Washington Football Legends for Charity in the District. In 2010, the foundation established the Black College Football Hall of Fame, which will move to its new home in Canton, Ohio, in 2018.
After Super Bowl XLII, the NFL honored the 20th anniversary of Williams’ Super Bowl XXII victory, as Williams was chosen to present the Lombardi Trophy to the New York Giants following their victory over the New England Patriots.
He and his wife, Raunda, have eight children: Ashley, Adrian, Carmeleta, Doug Jr., Jasmine, Laura, Lee and Temessia.