Jonah Williams, a defensive lineman for the Los Angeles Rams during his first three seasons as a pro, has signed with the Minnesota Vikings. In his debut season of 2021, Williams was a member of the Rams roster that won the Super Bowl.
The Rams signed Williams, a Weber State product, as an undrafted free agent. With Weber State, Williams earned three conference championships. In 2019, he was voted the Big Sky Defensive MVP. Williams was the Big Sky Scholar Athlete and the 2019–20 Weber State Male Athlete of the Year. He was not selected in the draft, but the Rams gave him a shot, and it didn’t take him long to establish himself as a full-time starter.
In his initial season, the 28-year-old defensive lineman appeared in eight games with no starts, and in his final campaign, he started 16 games. At last, in 2023, he made his Rams debut in 16 out of 17 games, recording a career-high 49 tackles, four tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, and one pass defensed. This season, Williams was involved in 36% of the Rams’ special teams snaps and 53% of the defense snaps.
After appointing former Rams coach Marcus Dixon to lead their defensive line this summer, the Vikings sign Williams. Despite only playing for Williams for one season, Dixon sensed he would fit in well with Minnesota, which is in the process of retooling in 2024.
Williams might move to tackle, where Minnesota has less depth, but his current role is to cover Jerry Tillery as an edge rusher. Williams might get an opportunity for significant playing time in 2024; even with Aaron Donald’s retirement, he was not going to earn that chance with the Rams.
Aaron Donald was “full” after Rams loss to Lions
Donald announced his retirement from the game of football over the weekend, ending one of the most remarkable careers of any defensive player in NFL history. Head coach Sean McVay and the Rams coaching staff have a big challenge on their hands to keep the defense afloat without the all-time great.
However, McVay knew this was coming and was ready for it for some time. In past years, there had been some discussion of Donald maybe retiring, but McVay knew it was over as soon as this season concluded with the Detroit Lions playoff loss.
McVay disclosed that Donald made it plain in a communication to the Rams coach that he was done with football the day after the Rams were eliminated.
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