Peer Into Character^® ep. 1: Jon Williams

Patriots Player Overcomes Adversity, Inspires Young Athletes

Jon Williams has overcome adversity and painful events in his life. He wants young athletes to believe they can, too — and he has advice on how. The former New England Patriots running back joins Even Field’s Chuck Wilson to share his personal life story, describing family tragedies, school challenges, and a serious injury. And how he still achieved many of his goals in life, despite those challenges. For young athletes, parents, and coaches, Jon’s path to the NFL is both insightful and inspiring.

You can also view this episode on Even Field’s YouTube Channel. Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio.

About Jon Williams

Jon Williams overcame significant challenges to accomplish the following:

• First member of his family to go to college
• Top scorer in New Jersey high school football his senior year
• Led his high school team to an undefeated season and a state group title
• Helped Penn State win the 1982 NCAA Football National Championship
• Drafted by the New England Patriots in the 3rd Round of the 1984 NFL Draft

Episode Quotes

“When you go through adversity, there’s going to be a bridge or T in the road. Over here, you’ve got those who’ve got the bad examples for you. And then you’ve got those who set those good examples. What are you going to do?” (8:55)

“Pick your friends. If they don’t want to be like you, you’ve got to tell them, you’ve got to move.” (9:34)

“Depression sets in. You go, what happened? I was angry. You get angry at God, you get angry at the sport. You get angry at yourself. I thought that I let so many people down.” (26:03)

Episode Timeline

• How Jon’s life changed dramatically when he was a child (3:04)
• Good and bad examples Jon had in his life (4:22)
• Why he listened to his coach (5:32)
• What football meant to him at an early age (6:29)
• The pact Jon Williams made with his friends (6:52)
• Education is the key — you have to look beyond just playing a sport (7:54)
• Facing adversity is about the choices you make (8:55)
• The impact of watching his older sibling’s drug use (11:15)
• Impact of his early football coaches (15:24)
• Jon describes how his H.S. football coach Jerry Moore influenced his life (18:05)
• From leading rusher in N.J. H.S. football to playing fullback at Penn St. (21:21)
• The injury that ended his NFL career (23:45)
• How he worked through the disappointment of seeing his career end early (26:21)
• Thankful for what he has in life and his joy in helping young people (28:35)

Episode Transcript

This episode features a powerful and inspiring story of facing challenges and overcoming adversity. The conversation was recorded on July 11, 2014, at Cushing Field on the U/Mass-Lowell campus in Lowell, Massachusetts, during a New England Patriots Alumni Club Football For YOU clinic.

Interviewee: Jon Williams
Interviewer: Chuck Wilson

Jon Williams: Growing up in New Jersey, I am one of seven and the youngest. About my third grade, my life turned upside down — my father went and shot and killed a man and went into prison. We went from having a nice house to growing up on welfare, not having much food to eat. The embarrassment of people asking where your dad is was very, very embarrassing for me.

When you guys think about adversity, what you have to go through — I went through it. I also was a stutterer. When I got nervous, I would stutter, and I was able to overcome those things. It’s all because of other people that got involved with my life.

Chuck Wilson: Tell us about growing up and the decisions that were out there, both good and bad.

Jon Williams: My bad example came from my brother. My oldest brother was a great football player, but he got messed up on drugs. That led him down the line to shooting needles and becoming a drug addict and eventually dying of AIDS.

Then I had good examples — the guys I hung out with, the guys I shared my story with. One guy was my high school football coach, Coach Jerry Moore. I have a National Championship ring. Well, I gave it to my high school football coach because when I got older, I looked at where I am right now. I’m in sales with FedEx and I love what I do. And it’s because of guys like him that got involved with my life.

Chuck Wilson: Why did you listen?

Jon Williams: Because of my mother. Not having my dad around, seeing her work hard, seeing her cry at night, seeing her not eat food because she wanted us to have food. I wanted to do something different. I wanted to be the first one to go to college. I wanted to be the first one to get into professional sports.

Chuck Wilson: Tell us about the role of football and team sports in your life.

Jon Williams: Football saved me and got me off the streets. My high school football coach said, “Hey if you want to, I can make you the best quarterback in New Jersey.” And, he lied. He made me the best running back in New Jersey.

It was about seven of us that hung around and we made a pact. We said, “We’re not going to do drugs and we’re not going to get in trouble.” And only one guy fell off.

“Pick your friends. If they don’t want to be like you, you’ve got to tell them, you’ve got to move.”

Chuck Wilson: Adversity. What do you want to tell the guys and girls about that?

Jon Williams: When you go through adversity, there’s going to be a bridge or T in the road. Over here, you’ve got those who’ve got the bad examples for you. And then, over on your other side, you’ve got those who set those good examples. What are you going to do?

I made that right choice. My brother was at that same crossroad. He chose to go left because he got involved with drugs and bad guys. Pick your friends. If they don’t want to be like you, you’ve got to tell them, you’ve got to move.

Chuck Wilson: You were a terrific blocker at Penn State when you needed to be. You’d block in the Sugar Bowl for the National Championship. Tell us about that.

Jon Williams: When you’re getting recruited, they talk about “you’re going to be a running back.” And then when you get there, reality sets in that they have a running back. Find a position on the football field. What is it going to take for you to get on the field?

So I started as a tailback, then got moved to fullback. I wasn’t happy with it, but it prepared me for playing running back. Learning how to block, blocking for Curt Warner — it was all for the betterment of the team, for that one common goal: a National Championship.

Chuck Wilson: You work hard, get through Penn State with a National Championship, get to the NFL. Then a serious knee injury.

Jon Williams: Devastating. On July 3rd, 1985, I was on the Gillette Stadium football field doing high knees, leg lifting. I hyperextended my knee. My foot went this way, my knee blew back that way. And there I laid on the football field, screaming and yelling.

Major reconstruction surgery with nerve damage. I walk with a drop foot. Depression sets in. “What happened? I was angry. You get angry at God, you get angry at the sport. You get angry at yourself.” I was 23 years old and devastated.

Chuck Wilson: How did you work through it?

Jon Williams: Some good friends, a great wife, spiritual, my church.

I went to a VA hospital. I met a double amputee and talked with one of the vets. He asked if I was angry and I said yes. He said, “Let’s change. I’ll take your good leg and I’ll take your bad leg.” And it was, “Okay, Jon. Stop. No more complaining.”

I don’t want to be the person that someone opens the door and sees a face that’s frowning. I want to be the person with a sincere joyful face because I’m just appreciative of everything I have.

Our thanks to Jon Williams for sharing his remarkable journey. We also thank Pete Brock, President of the New England Patriots Alumni Club, and a long-time Director on Even Field’s Board.