# Darrel Williams

Darrel Williams (born April 15, 1995) is an American professional football running back. He played college football for the LSU Tigers. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2018.

## Early life

Williams was a four-star recruit coming out of John Ehret High School in Marrero, Louisiana; he amassed 2,036 yards and had 27 touchdowns in his senior year. He originally committed to play college football for Arizona State, but after a running back spot opened up at LSU, he was recruited by head coach Les Miles to play for them. He decided to flip his commitment to LSU over offers from Wisconsin, Tennessee, and Florida, among others.

## College career

In Williams's freshman season at LSU, he joined a four-player running back rotation. On October 1, 2016, against Missouri, he had 21 carries for 130 rushing yards and three touchdowns. As a senior, he played in 13 games, starting four, while serving as the primary backup to Derrius Guice. On October 21, 2017, against Ole Miss, he became the first player in LSU history to record at least 100 rushing yards and 100 receiving yards in the same game. After the conclusion of LSU's 2017 season, Williams accepted an invitation to play in the 2018 Senior Bowl. Williams was named one of LSU’s two team MVPs (along with linebacker Devin White) at the conclusion of his senior season in 2017. He finished his career with 1,651 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns, along with 38 receptions for 462 yards.

### College statistics

| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Rushing | Rushing | Rushing | Rushing | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving |
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD |
| 2014 | LSU | SEC | FR | RB | 11 | 64 | 302 | 4.7 | 3 | 6 | 63 | 10.5 | 0 |
| 2015 | LSU | SEC | SO | RB | 11 | 60 | 296 | 4.9 | 4 | 4 | 31 | 7.8 | 0 |
| 2016 | LSU | SEC | JR | RB | 9 | 52 | 233 | 4.5 | 3 | 5 | 37 | 7.4 | 0 |
| 2017 | LSU | SEC | SR | RB | 13 | 145 | 820 | 5.7 | 9 | 23 | 331 | 14.4 | 0 |
| Career | LSU | | | | 44 | 321 | 1,651 | 5.1 | 19 | 38 | 462 | 12.2 | 0 |

## Professional career

Pre-draft measurables :
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 20-yard shuttle | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press |
| 5 ft 11+5⁄8 in (1.82 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | 31 in (0.79 m) | 9+3⁄8 in (0.24 m) | 4.72 s | 4.21 s | 32.0 in (0.81 m) | 9 ft 1 in (2.77 m) | 22 reps |
| All values from NFL Combine |||||||||

### Kansas City Chiefs

After going undrafted in the 2018 NFL draft, Williams was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent on May 5, 2018. He totaled 13 carries for 44 rushing yards and three receptions for 27 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown in his rookie season.
In Week 4 of the 2019 season against the Detroit Lions, Williams rushed eight times for 13 yards and two touchdowns and caught three passes for 43 yards in the 34–30 win. Williams was placed on injured reserve on December 5, 2019, with a hamstring injury. He finished the season with 141 rushing yards and three touchdowns, along with 15 catches for 167 yards and one touchdown through 12 games. During his absence, the Chiefs went on to win Super Bowl LIV, their first championship in 50 years.
In the 2020 season, Williams finished the season with 39 carries for 169 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown to go along with 18 receptions for 116 receiving yards. He earned the start for the Divisional Round against the Cleveland Browns due to an injury to Clyde Edwards-Helaire. In the game, Williams rushed for 78 yards and caught 4 passes for 16 yards in the 22–17 win. In the American Football Conference Championship against the Buffalo Bills, Williams rushed for 52 yards and a touchdown during the 38–24 win. He played in Super Bowl LV, but only recorded 15 total scrimmage yards in the 31–9 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Williams signed a one-year contract extension with the Chiefs on March 16, 2021. Williams finished the 2021 season with a career high 558 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns. He also caught 47 passes for 452 yards and two receiving touchdowns.

### Arizona Cardinals

On May 31, 2022, Williams signed with the Arizona Cardinals on a one-year contract. He was placed on injured reserve on November 2. On November 14, 2022, backup running back Eno Benjamin was released, making Williams and rookie running back Keontay Ingram the backups.

### New Orleans Saints

On August 15, 2023, Williams signed with the New Orleans Saints. He was released on August 29.

## NFL career statistics

Legend :
| Bold | Career high |

### Regular season

| Year | Team | Games | Games | Rushing | Rushing | Rushing | Rushing | Rushing | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Fumbles | Fumbles |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost |
| 2018 | KC | 6 | 0 | 13 | 44 | 3.4 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 27 | 9.0 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | KC | 12 | 0 | 41 | 141 | 3.4 | 41T | 3 | 15 | 167 | 11.1 | 52T | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2020 | KC | 16 | 0 | 39 | 169 | 4.3 | 13 | 1 | 18 | 116 | 6.4 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | KC | 17 | 7 | 144 | 558 | 3.9 | 21 | 6 | 47 | 452 | 9.6 | 38 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | ARI | 6 | 0 | 21 | 102 | 4.9 | 30 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 2.3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | Career | 57 | 7 | 258 | 1,014 | 3.9 | 41T | 11 | 87 | 771 | 8.9 | 52T | 4 | 1 | 1 |

### Postseason

| Year | Team | Games | Games | Rushing | Rushing | Rushing | Rushing | Rushing | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Fumbles | Fumbles |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost |
| 2018 | KC | 2 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 3.0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | KC | 3 | 1 | 28 | 135 | 4.8 | 16T | 1 | 7 | 35 | 5.0 | 9T | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | KC | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Career | Career | 7 | 1 | 32 | 148 | 4.6 | 16T | 2 | 7 | 35 | 5.0 | 9T | 0 | 1 | 1 |