John L. Williams Appreciation Thread

[AROS]

Like all of you fellow 38 Club members, I had plenty of legacy Seahawks players I loved. One that always stood out to me was John L. Williams. Kind of the Jacob Green of the offense to me. Super polite off the field but man, on the field, look out. I always loved that big neck brace he used to wear. Just added to his aura to me. Bruising, powerful fullback. A position from a different time.

I would love to hear from any fellow fans who remember him and what he meant to the team back in the day. Sadly, there's no HD footage of him.

 

[AROS]

In fact, during the dog days of the offseason, I wouldn't mind seeing an official appreciation thread for multiple legacy players.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

John L. was a beast. Totally versatile player.

I'll never forget this play

 

[JustTheTip]

Of course largent with the block that turned the big play into a touch down. The debate against him being the most important player in franchise history is a tough one.

 

[sutz]

It was a sad day when we let him go. Seeing him in a Steelers uni was definitely distressing.

Real lunch pail player, old school all the way.

 

[LeveeBreak]

I think the depression lasted weeks when JL went to pitt. When we drafted a FB in round 1, I was like WTF. That changed pretty quick. Great hands and moved like a RB.

 

[Wsumatt1982]

I always liked John L Williams, but I was very young back that then and didn't truly appreciate him like I do now in my old age.

 

[seabowl]

December 18, 1988, last game of the year, Seahawks at Raiders, and whichever team won, won the division and made the playoffs. The team that lost, is out of the playoffs. John Williams almost single-handedly won that game for us. What a performance!

 

[AROS]

@Hawkstorian if you don't weigh in AND start a new legacy thread I will personally email you unsavory musings.

 

[AROS]

It was a sad day when we let him go. Seeing him in a Steelers uni was definitely distressing.

Real lunch pail player, old school all the way.

So true. I apparently blocked out the Steelers era so thank you very much, lol.

TOTAL lunch pail player. I remember he had this upright way of running and just plowed over people like a Sherman tank. Add in the neck brace and he was fun to watch on every level.

 

[chris98251]

He and Curt were a great combination, both physical in there own right but ran differently and one quick and another smooth and agile.

 

[GetNjigbaWithIt]

Oops, wrong John Williams.

 

[Kamcussionator]

He was like the Rick Finney of .. oh wait.

 

[oldhawkfan]

When Warner went down JohnL stepped right up and carried on as the lead back. He was such a solid all around RB/FB. He was like the Swiss Army knife of running backs. He could do it all.

 

[Atradees]

The Hawks have always had great backs over the years. John L is.....words fail me. Just loved his next level. His ability to impose his will run or catch or block whatever he was called on to do. Does he embody the underdog spirit I survived on? John L is a household name many years after to diehard hawks fans.

 

[Rat]

Is there a franchise that can boast a better top 2 FBs than John L and Mack Strong? And I mean actual fullbacks, not 70 years ago when every ball carrier was called a fullback.

 

[Aircrew]

When Warner went down JohnL stepped right up and carried on as the lead back. He was such a solid all around RB/FB. He was like the Swiss Army knife of running backs. He could do it all.

You're right, I had forgotten about that.

John L. is in my Top 5 favorite Hawks all time, absolutely loved the screen pass over the middle that almost always gave us 6. The one in L.A. against the Raiders when we won our first AFC West title will be etched into my mind forever. I knew we were going to win after that play. Heart breaking when he went to that place which shall remain nameless.

 

[jeremiah]

Like all of you fellow 38 Club members, I had plenty of legacy Seahawks players I loved. One that always stood out to me was John L. Williams. Kind of the Jacob Green of the offense to me. Super polite off the field but man, on the field, look out. I always loved that big neck brace he used to wear. Just added to his aura to me. Bruising, powerful fullback. A position from a different time.

I would love to hear from any fellow fans who remember him and what he meant to the team back in the day. Sadly, there's no HD footage of him.

He would make a helluva TE/FB in todays game. He could catch, block and run.

 

[seabowl]

Is there a franchise that can boast a better top 2 FBs than John L and Mack Strong? And I mean actual fullbacks, not 70 years ago when every ball carrier was called a fullback.

Rathman and Juscyk aren’t bad. John L was really known more for his running abilities than anything else. When I think fullback , I’m mostly thinking of blocking ability first rather than running