Maxx Williams

Maxx Williams's Biography

Maxx Williams, born on April 12, 1994, is a professional American football player who holds a tight end position. Maxx is currently a free agent, looking for opportunities to add to his extensive career in the National Football League (NFL). Starting his football journey as a college athlete, Williams left a notable mark during his tenure at the University of Minnesota with the Minnesota Golden Gophers. In his sophomore year in 2014, his first-class performance on the football field earned him All-American honors.

In his initial phase at the University, Maxx enjoyed a productive career. After redshirting his first year in 2012, Williams began his journey on the field in 2013 as a redshirt freshman. During this season, he started seven out of 13 games and made 25 receptions for 417 yards, scoring five touchdowns. Following this, Maxx produced an even better performance in 2014, rounding up the year with 36 receptions for 569 yards and eight touchdowns. For his laudable performance, he was nominated as a finalist for the John Mackey Award.

After his redshirt sophomore season, Maxx made the choice to forego his junior and senior seasons and enter into the 2015 NFL draft. Despite the NFL draft advisory board advising him to return to school, he chose to go against their recommendation. This move was seen as a beneficial one, given the lack of depth in the upcoming draft class in the tight end position. Preceding the draft, Maxx trained with Kyle Rudolph, tight end for the Minnesota Vikings, and received an invitation to the NFL combine. Successfully completing all the required combine and positional drills, he secured third place among tight ends in the 40-yard dash. This impressive performance together with his earlier track record earmarked him as the top tight end over Miami’s Clive Walford.

Maxx’s impending talent was noticed, and he was ultimately selected in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens. After trading their second and fifth-round picks with the Arizona Cardinals, the Ravens were able to move up three spots to secure Maxx as their choice. As a Raven, Maxx was signed to a four-year contract worth $4.05 million, inclusive of a signing bonus of $1.20 million.

Throughout his first training season with the Ravens, Maxx competed tenaciously for the vacant spot of the starting tight end. After an impressive performance, he was named as the Raven’s second tight end behind Crockett Gilmore. During his regular season debut, Maxx made an 11-yard pass during the Raven’s season opener against the Denver Broncos. Following this, Williams made his first career start catching a pass for eight yards in a loss at the Oakland Raiders. After an injury-riddled season, including a severe concussion during a victory against the Cleveland Browns, Maxx finished the season with 32 receptions, 268 receiving yards, and a touchdown over seven starts and 14 games.

In the following seasons, Maxx encountered a series of ups and downs, including battling injuries and changing teams. He was placed on the injured reserve list due to a knee injury that required surgery. Despite these setbacks, he returned each time exhibiting impressive resilience. In 2019, Maxx was signed to the Arizona Cardinals and was named a starting tight end to commence the season. He finished the 2019 season with 15 receptions for 202 yards and scored one receiving touchdown. After several positional changes, injuries and renewals with the Cardinals, Maxx was released in October 2022. However, his commitment didn’t wane; he was signed back to the practice squad just three days later and was ultimately signed to the active roster in December 2022.

Maxx’s talent and passion for football is far from accidental. It runs deeply in his lineage, given that his father, Brian Williams, and his grandfather, Robert Williams, played in the NFL. His father was a three-year player at center at Minnesota and was drafted in the first round in the 1989 NFL draft. Robert, his grandfather, was a quarterback at Notre Dame and was selected by the Chicago Bears in the 1959 NFL draft. His mother also contributed to their family’s notable athletic prowess, having played volleyball at Minnesota from 1984 to 1987.

Maxx Williams’ career, character, and perseverance showcase dedicated commitment to the sport. Even when faced with career-threatening injuries and uncertainties, he has consistently shown dedication and resilience, marking a noteworthy contribution to the legacy of American football.