Jarvis Williams ( American football ) Jarvis Eric Williams , Sr . ( May 16 , 1965 – May 25 , 2010 ) was an American college and professional football player who was a defensive back in the National Football League ( NFL ) for seven seasons during the 1980s and 1990s . Williams played college football for the University of Florida , and was recognized as an All - American . Thereafter , he played professionally for the Miami Dolphins and the New York Giants of the NFL . Early years . Williams was born in Palatka , Florida in 1965 . He attended Palatka High School , and was a key player for the Palatka Panthers high school football team that won the Florida Class 3A state championship in 1981 . College career . Williams received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in nearby Gainesville , Florida , where he played cornerback for head coach Galen Hall ' s Florida Gators football teams from 1984 to 1987 . As a freshmen and sophomore , he was part of two of the best teams in Gators history ; the team posted identical 9 – 1 – 1 overall win - loss records in 1984 and 1985 , and the best - in - the - SEC records of 5 – 0 – 1 and 5 – 1 during those same seasons . Williams is often remembered for the hard - hitting tackle that he delivered to Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Melvin Bratton in 1986 — a hit that left Bratton temporarily unconscious . He was named a first - team All - Southeastern Conference ( SEC ) selection in 1986 and a first - team All - American in 1987 . Williams started forty - five consecutive games over four seasons ( the second highest total in Gators history ) , had ten career interception s , and led the team in tackle s ( 77 ) and punt return s ( 20 for 222 yards ) during his senior season . He was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a " Gator Great " in 2001 . Professional career . Miami Dolphins . Williams was chosen by the Miami Dolphins in the second round ( forty - second pick overall ) of the 1988 NFL Draft , and played safety for the Dolphins from to . In Miami , Williams was reunited with his former Gators teammate Louis Oliver when the Dolphins drafted Oliver in ; together they were the Dolphins ' starting safeties for five seasons . In his first five NFL seasons with the Dolphins , Williams recorded fourteen interceptions , including one he returned forty - two yards for a touchdown in . New York Giants . He played his final NFL season for the New York Giants in . During the season , he recorded sixty tackles and two interceptions in thirteen games . During his seven - season NFL career , Williams played in 104 regular season games and started in ninety - five of them ; he recorded 575 tackles and sixteen interceptions , with one touchdown return . Life after the NFL . Williams recently began work as a volunteer assistant football coach at Interlachen High School in Interlachen , Florida , and had previously worked as an assistant coach at Trinity Catholic High School in Ocala , Florida . Williams ' son , Jarvis Williams , Jr . , was the starting fullback from 2009 - 2010 for the Jacksonville University Dolphins football team , and was named the 2007 Pioneer Football League Newcomer of the Year by " Street & Smith ' s College Football " annual as the starting Linebacker for the Dolphins . Williams ' former Gators teammate , quarterback Kerwin Bell , is the head coach of the JU Dolphins . Williams died suddenly and without prior warning from an acute asthma attack just before midnight on May 25 , 2010 ; he was 45 years old .