Disgraced Gregg Williamsv says he will coach again
image has taken a beating since his role in the New Orleans Saints’ bounty program was revealed, culminating with his indefinite suspension March 21 from the NFL.
But Williams is still beloved in Excelsior Springs, Mo., where he graduated from high school in 1976 and has raised more than $1 million for youth and community programs.
That much was apparent last week at the Gregg Williams Foundation Tiger Classic golf benefit, where Williams made his first public appearance since commissioner Roger Goodell’s ruling.
Williams, who won a Super Bowl in 2009 as the Saints’ defensive coordinator but is accused of overseeing and funding an incentive program that rewarded players who caused injuries, spoke briefly with reporters during a lightning delay.
Without going into specifics and acknowledging that he hasn’t spoken with Goodell since the suspension was handed down, Williams said he will coach again but preferred to “keep the focus on the kids” and his foundation.
Williams’ former players and colleagues at the tournament said he deserved a chance to return to the NFL.
“Absolutely, he’s too good a coach and too good a person to deny him that,” former NFL All-Pro Clyde Simmons said. “There’s a lot of stuff out there that’s hearsay, but when it boils down to it, Gregg would never do anything to purposely harm anyone.”
While Williams has retreated from the spotlight, his work with his charity, which was founded in December 2004, continues.
“I’ve known Gregg Williams forever and he hasn’t changed,” said Jack Talley, a childhood friend, fellow 1976 grad of Excelsior Springs High and member of the Gregg Williams Foundation board of directors. “When it came time to make a decision (about this tournament), we were on the normal time frame and he said, ‘OK, let’s go. We will make sure we support the kids.’ It was the status quo.”
For the first time this spring, the foundation, which has given $343,001 to schools and $255,021 to community events, offered endowed scholarships.
Nationally, Williams might be cast as a villain, especially after his impassioned pregame speech before the Saints’ playoff loss at San Francisco in January, which outlined specific ways to target key 49ers offensive players, went public.
That is not the case in his hometown — or among many former players and colleagues.
“I’m here to support Gregg and what he’s doing in the community,” said Steve Jackson, who played for Williams with the Titans and coached on his staffs in Buffalo and Washington. “He does not deserve this. You can see all the things he’s doing for the community. The stuff going on is unfortunate, but he does so many good things that don’t get talked about.”
Those same supporters believe that Williams is absolutely right when he says he’ll coach again in the NFL and, to a man, they believe he should be afforded that chance.
“There’s no doubt in my mind,” Harkins said. “Someday (he’ll coach again), and I’d put money on next year. I don’t know why I say that, but I would say next year.”
For the time being, Williams is trying to lay low. He still lives in St. Louis, where he had accepted the defensive coordinator position with the Rams and worked for a few months before the scandal broke.
Like the thunderstorm that rolled through Friday morning, causing a one-hour delay, Williams doesn’t harbor any hard feelings and hopes his personal storm will pass soon enough.
The foundation even has a sense of humor about everything that has happened.
“We invited Roger to the golf tournament, but we didn’t hear from him,” Harkins said of the commissioner. “We sent an invitation. It couldn’t hurt. All he could do was say no.”
Friends insist that Williams hasn’t been forever changed by this unfortunate episode in his life.
“He’s still Gregg — very upbeat and he’s handling it the way he’s always handled everything,” Jackson said. “He looks it head-on and deals with it as it comes, then goes on to the next play.”
In some respects, Williams is even enjoying his first season away from football in 32 years.
“He seems the most relaxed I’ve ever seen him, to be honest with you, and it’s kind of nice to see him unwind,” Harkins said. “It’s a break — 32 years of coaching nonstop football and now he gets to think of something else.”
Far from depressed, Williams will take more time to watch his youngest son, Chase, play football this fall at Virginia Tech among other pursuits he’s had to sacrifice for an NFL career.
“He’s spent a lot of time with family and a lot of time with friends,” Talley said. “He’s caught up on and really been a dad. He hasn’t had a chance to be
a dad for years, so he’s taking full advantage.
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