Pat Williams ( American football ) Patrick " Pat " Williams Sr . ( born October 24 , 1972 ) is a former American football defensive tackle who played in the National Football League ( NFL ) for fourteen seasons . He played college football for Texas A & M University . He was signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 1997 . Williams also played for the Minnesota Vikings . He was a three - time Pro Bowl selection . College career . After graduating from Wossman High School in Monroe , Louisiana , Williams attended Navarro College , where he was a two - time junior college All - American in 1992 and 1993 . He initially transferred to Texas A & M University in 1994 , but failed the math portion of a junior - college exit exam and was ruled ineligible for the 1994 season . He transferred again to Northeastern Oklahoma A & M College , where he graduated in 1995 , before returning to Texas A & M . Williams earned 2nd - team All - SWC as a junior in 1995 in only 6 starts . He also started 8 games and appeared in 11 as a senior . Professional career . Buffalo Bills . Williams went undrafted in the 1997 NFL Draft , and signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent the same year . He played in just one game his rookie season . During the 1998 – 2000 seasons , he was a regular contributor , but did not become a regular starter until the 2001 season . In 2000 , he was named to USA Today ’ s All - Joe Team , recognizing the NFL ’ s most " overlooked , ignored and hard - working " players . Williams intercepted his first career pass and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown , picking off Miami Dolphins quarterback A . J . Feeley on December 5 , 2004 , sealing the win for Buffalo 42 - 32 and breaking open a 3 - point game with 1 : 55 left to play . Williams was named 2003 winner of the Ed Block Courage Award by his teammates . During his final four seasons with the Bills ( 2001 – 2004 ) , he started in all but four games . He became a free agent after the 2004 season . Minnesota Vikings . Prior to the 2005 season , Williams signed with the Minnesota Vikings , the 1st signing for the team in 2005 free agency and a priority signing . Following an advice by then defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin , Williams lost 15 pounds in the offseason . Although he ' s a defensive tackle when the Minnesota Vikings were in a 4 - 3 defense , some sources list him as a nose tackle . As a player for the Vikings , he was selected to his first Pro Bowl in 2006 , and followed with consecutive selections in 2007 and 2008 . He was also a second - team All - Pro selection in 2007 . He also helped the Vikings compile the best rushing defense in the league over the past three seasons . He and his teammate Kevin Williams were known collectively as the " Williams Wall " due to their contribution to the Vikings excellent rushing defense . On December 2 , 2008 , Pat and teammate Kevin Williams were suspended for 4 games by the league for violating its anti - doping policy , for use of a diuretic , which can be used a masking agent for steroid use . It is believed that the diuretic was found in a weight - loss supplement that he had been taking . Williams , along with Kevin Williams , appealed the suspension to a Minnesota federal court ; the judge ruled against the NFL ' s decision and allowed all suspended players , including Williams , to play until a further review of the case . On April 28 , 2011 , the Minnesota Supreme Court declined to consider Williams ' appeal of the case , clearing the way for the NFL to suspend Williams . In the 2009 season , Williams made 44 tackles , 2 sacks , and 2 forced fumbles . He announced that he might retire after the season , but decided to come back for one more year in 2010 . He was the oldest defensive player in the NFL . On March 2 , 2011 , Williams announced that he would not re - sign with the Vikings for the 2011 season . " Everything ’ s good . I am not coming back . Going to go finish elsewhere . " He ended his NFL career playing nose tackle when he retired . Personal . Williams is married to Valarie , and the couple has two daughters , Crystal and Alesha , and a son , Pat Jr . .