Quarterback Brandon Williams retires from the Ravens

Defensive tackle Brandon Williams may have won his only Super Bowl ring as a Kansas City Chief, but now that it’s time to retire, he’s ending his career as a Baltimore Raven.

Williams returned to the team’s facility in Owings Mills after retiring and said he was back for the first time since his final season with the team in 2021.

“This is where I started,” Williams said when asked why he decided to retire with the Ravens. “In the Bible, Elijah was fed by ravens. Then he was told to go somewhere else. He had something better. And I just wanted to go back and complete the circle. … I just wanted to come back here and spend the rest of my life in Baltimore.”

Williams, a third-round draft pick in 2013, joined the Ravens a year after their last Super Bowl. He became a full-time starter as a sophomore, and over the next nine seasons with the Ravens, he played on the line as a safety and defensive back. He earned Pro Bowl honors in 2018.

In November 2022 Williams became chief. He played in the team’s final five regular-season games and saw limited snaps in the postseason. He received a ring when Kansas City beat the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 in Super Bowl LVII.

Williams was known as a very athletic player, even at 6-foot-1, 336 pounds. Ravens coach John Harbaugh recalled what it was like to see Williams perform feats he had previously only seen in movies.

“And then he came here and started doing somersaults!” Harbaugh said. “Up and down the field! As a 300+ pound player, a dominant defensive lineman.”

Williams carried him on the field with 325 career tackles, 21 quarterback hits, seven sacks and 11 passes defensed. One of his proudest moments came against a current team member. He said it was great to see running back Derrick Henry carry the ball in a Ravens jersey, but he was always proud of the moment he beat Henry in the backfield.

Williams is also remembered for his leadership in the locker room and his good nature and fun-loving personality, Harbaugh said. He told a story about how during practice he had the team play a song from The Greatest Showman and Williams “shouted” every word.

“He could be the greatest showman we ever had in Baltimore,” Harbaugh said.

Williams said he wants to be remembered not for his showmanship, but for his authenticity.

In the year between his final season as a Chief and this one, Williams said he took time to just be a father. He “gave time” to his family, going to games, practices and equine therapy for his special needs son.

Now that his career is officially over, Williams said that while he would have loved to have won a championship in Baltimore, he has no regrets.

“It’s been a truly amazing career,” Williams said.