New England Patriots
“Back home,” Williams wrote.
Joejuan Williams plays during a preseason game. Paul Sancya / AP Photo
-
Robert Kraft backs Mike Vrabel after controversial offseason: ‘No one is infallible’
-
Tom Brady busy at Fanatics Fest, from a face slap to showing off his arm
Former Patriots cornerback Joejuan Williams has been selected as a member of the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching fellowship.
“Feel like when you walk in your purpose, God gone keep blessing you,” Williams wrote on Instagram. “Back home. 2 time Bill Walsh invitee in 1 year. Forever grateful. Let’s work @Patriots.”
The program, which is aimed at providing coaching opportunities for minority candidates, has tutored more than 2,000 minority coaches. Notable alumni of the program include Mike Tomlin, DeMeco Ryans, and Mike McDaniel.
With the departures of Tomlin and McDaniel, there are three black head coaches left in the NFL: Ryans (Texans), Aaron Glenn (Jets), and Todd Bowles (Buccaneers). Ryans, 41, is the youngest of the three.
Williams announced his retirement from his playing career in May. He played 42 games with three different franchises over four seasons in the NFL.
“This game transformed my life, gave me purpose, discipline, memories, relationships, and experiences I’ll carry forever,” Williams wrote at the time. “Thank you to every coach that worked with me, every teammate that I shared the field with, and the support from my family, friends, and fans.”
“Now the same dream that I once chased and accomplished … it’s time to impact the game by helping others accomplish theirs.”
The Patriots selected Williams in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He spent three years in New England before short stints with the Bears and Vikings in 2023.
Williams was a part of a four-person group who spent minicamp with the Commanders this spring as a part of the fellowship program.
“You don’t even feel like an intern based on the love that they give, the openness that they have,” Williams said. “Every coach in here has been top notch and just pouring out information and tips and nuggets. I’ve been writing down pretty much every word, and I can’t wait to incorporate these things in my game.”
Williams grew up in Nashville and stayed in the city for college at Vanderbilt. He was a second-team All-SEC selection in 2018. At 6-foot-3, 212-pounds, he projected as a big cornerback in the NFL.
Williams lasted three seasons with the Patriots, recording 43 tackles and eight pass breakups with the team.
Khari A. Thompson
Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.
Get the latest Boston sports news
Receive updates on your favorite Boston teams, straight from our newsroom to your inbox.
