Clancy Williams

Clarence "Clancy" Williams Jr. (September 24, 1942 – September 21, 1986) was an American football defensive back who played eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL), all with the Los Angeles Rams.

Early life Williams was born on September 24, 1942, in Beaumont, or Deweyville, Texas. He helped Renton to a Puget Sound League football championship. Williams was the only black player on his team. While some players bullied him for this, his mother encouraged him not to allow them to degrade him.

The City of Renton made March 27, 1965, Clancy Williams Day.

College career He played college football at Washington State University (WSU) in Pullman, and was its star running back and a defensive back from 1962–64. He was a first-team All-American at defensive back as a senior in 1964. In his three years of varsity football, he had 1,456 rushing yards, 332 receiving yards, and 719 yards on kickoff returns.

Williams played on both sides of the ball: on offense at halfback and defense at cornerback. WSU sports historian Dick Fry made the case Williams was the finest two-way player in Washington State history. He played in the 1965 Hula Bowl, East-West Shrine game, and Chicago College All Star Game against the Cleveland Browns. He was inducted into Washington State's Hall of Fame in 1986.

His most famous college play came in WSU's 1964 opening game against Stanford. With little more than one minute left in the game, WSU was down 23–22. A Stanford receiver caught a pass, and when he turned to run upfield, Williams stripped the ball away and took it to WSU's 37 yard line. WSU scored a touchdown, winning the game 29–23.

Professional career He was selected in the first round of the 1965 NFL draft (ninth overall) by the Rams. and his seven interceptions in 1968 were tied for fourth best in the NFL.

At the time Williams retired after 1972, he had 28 interceptions for the Rams, two returned for touchdowns. His 28 interceptions for the Rams were second most in team history when he retired, behind teammate Eddie Meador (46). Through 2024, he is tied for fifth all-time on the Rams interception list, while Meador still remains first. He also returned kickoffs for the Rams, chiefly from 1965 to 1967; averaging over 25 yards per return.

He finished his professional football career in the World Football League.

Williams had three first cousins from Beaumont who played in the NFL, Mel Farr, Miller Farr, and Jerry Levias.

Death He died of cancer in Seattle at age 43 in 1986. and was interred at Greenwood Memorial Park in Renton.