Madieu Williams Madieu Mohammed Williams ( born October 18 , 1981 ) is an American football safety who is currently a free agent . He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft . He played college football at the University of Maryland . Williams has also played for the Minnesota Vikings , San Francisco 49ers , and Washington Redskins . Early years . Williams was born in Sierra Leone , West Africa and moved to Lanham , Maryland at the age of nine . He attended DuVal High School , Towson University , and the University of Maryland . Professional career . Cincinnati Bengals . After being drafted in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals , Williams contributed early by playing in all 16 games . He finished the season with 103 tackles , 11 pass delfections , two sacks , and three interceptions . He returned one of the interceptions for a touchdown . In 2005 , Williams only played in 4 games , missing the other 12 due to injury . He did , however , record 23 tackles and an interception . In 2006 , Williams returned to play all 16 games of the season . He finished the season with 90 tackles , 13 pass break - ups , two forced fumbles , and three interceptions . In 2007 , injuries again caused Williams to miss three games of the season . He finished up the season with 74 tackles , 7 pass deflections , two sacks , one forced fumble , two fumble recoveries , and two interceptions . He opened up the season with 10 tackles in the Monday Night Football opener against the Baltimore Ravens . Minnesota Vikings . After spending his first four years with Cincinnati , Williams signed with Minnesota following the 2007 season . He agreed to a six - year , $ 33 million contract . He missed the first 7 games of the 2008 season due to a neck injury he suffered during training camp . In his first game back he intercepted Sage Rosenfels to wrap up the win for the Vikings . He finished the 2008 season with 42 tackles and 2 interceptions . On July 28 , 2011 , he was released . San Francisco 49ers . Williams signed with the San Francisco 49ers on August 1 , 2011 . Washington Redskins . Williams signed with the Washington Redskins on April 10 , 2012 . He became the Redskins ' starting free safety after Tanard Jackson , his main competition for the starting position , was suspended for an entire season . In Week 6 win against his former team , the Minnesota Vikings , he intercepted a pass from Christian Ponder and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown . Training methods . Madieu trains with an athletic group known as " The Stable " , to whom he has credited to his success stemming from his freshman year in high school . " This is home , and I feel good when I ’ m working out , " said Williams , who ’ s headed into his fourth season . " It ’ s a lot of guys that put in a lot of work getting ready for whatever sport that they play . It ’ s a lot of camaraderie beyond us training . " Community service . The Madieu Williams Foundation , founded in 2005 , focuses on health , wellness , nutrition , fitness and education . Through his foundation , Madieu reaches out to youth and teaches them at an early age the importance of a healthy lifestyle . Recently , Madieu Williams was honored by Hall of Famer Franco Harris and Harris ' company , R Super Foods , as their Cincinnati Super MVP . In 2009 , Williams donated $ 2 million to the University of Maryland to help create the Madieu Williams Center for Global Health Initiatives . It is the largest gift to the university by an African - American alum . On February 6 , 2011 , Williams received the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award . every year Willliams on maryland day hosts a free football camp run by former and current terps college and nfl players . players like Torrey Smith have coached ages 6 - 14 .