Vince Williams is calling it a career. The Steelers linebacker announced his retirement today, per an announcement from the organization.
“Vince Williams notified us today that he will retire from the game of football,” said Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert. “We respect his decision and want to thank him for his time with us as he consistently showed great character and leadership in addition to his contributions on the field. We wish Vince and his family all the best.”
The 2013 sixth-round pick spent his entire career in Pittsburgh, appearing in 121 games. Williams will retire having collected 479 tackles, 50 tackles for loss, 20.5 sacks, and 45 QB hits, a mark that ranks 11th in franchise history. The linebacker also saw time in eight playoff games for the Steelers, collecting 26 tackles.
The 31-year-old continued to produce in 2020, compiling 70 tackles, three sacks, and a career-high 14 tackles for loss in 14 starts. The organization cut the veteran early in the offseason, saving the team $4MM against the cap. Williams later re-signed with the team, inking a one-year deal worth just over $1MM.
Williams was likely going to find himself behind Devin Bush and Robert Spillane at middle linebacker (per Mark Kaboly of The Athletic on Twitter), but he was still going to see plenty of playing time. With the veteran out of the picture, the team could now turn to the likes of Buddy Johnson or Ulysees Gilbert.
What just happened?
Kinda weird how he got released and resigned for cap reasons, then retires the day of training camp. Hoping it’s just a change of heart and nothing serious happened
Sounds like he’s sticking it to them. I’d be upset if I gave it all and got my pay cut by 75%.
Yeah thats not how Bince rolls. Nice try tho
That dude left his mark in Pit. That’s a statement! Great career and enjoy retirement.
Always the most energetic guy on the field. He will for sure be missed. Solid career
What in the world….
This news hurts me as a Steelers fan just as much as releasing Decastro… damn it Man. Both great guys, good leaders and good players.
Clearly he was promised something playing time wise that was changed later in the offseason because of FA signings and a fluid depth chart. He was a good leader and an above average players. Very solid career for a 6th rounder.
Can’t stand the Steelers. But he was a player I enjoyed watching play. The game is less without him.
If Vince Williams was a Raider the story line would be…
1) He was a surprise 6th round reach
2) Cutting him and then resigning him to save cap space would be scene as dysfunction
3) His retirement right before the start of training camp would be a clear example of how something is wrong with the organization
4) Gruden and Mayock do not know what they are doing
Just Saying
Well if it were the Raiders, all of that would likely be true. Unfairly or not, organizations that haven’t been a dysfunctional joke almost continuously for 20 years tend to get more benefit of the doubt.
And anyway, pretty much everyone who isn’t a full-on yinzer thinks that the Steelers are a mess right now. I think you’d be hard pressed to find a Steelers fan who expects them to be good this season.
Yeah, for real, which of Mark Davis, Jon Gruden or the Raiders as a whole has not earned their rep?
Even Lisa Simpson knows the Raiders cheat.