Tramon Williams is an ageless wonder. The longevity he has displayed over 10 years with the Green Bay Packers and 13 years overall is nothing short of amazing, especially for a defensive back. On top of that, he still shows a remarkable level of energy and athleticism for a 37-year-old NFL player. So, where does Tramon rank among both all-time defensive backs and all-time Packers?
Let’s look at the stats:
Williams, a Packer Fan Favorite, went undrafted in 2006 out of Louisiana Tech. Even so, he played in all 16 games for the Green Bay Packers as a rookie and even started one. Let’s focus in on his Green Bay statistics. In his eight years in Green Bay, prior to leaving for Cleveland, Williams played in all but one game, always showcasing his wild athleticism and sportsmanship. An ironman in every sense of the word, his streak was incredibly rare for a defensive back, especially one as physical a player as he was and is. At the age of 35, Tramon came back to the Packers, after a stint with the Cardinals, and has since played all 16 games for the last two years. Starting only seven games last season, he contributed two interceptions, eight passes defended, and a forced fumble. Tramon, having started 153 of 199 games played in his career, has accumulated 34 interceptions, 152 passes defended, 705 combined tackles, six forced fumbles, and a single touchdown. These are the stats of a longtime, savvy veteran who has consistently contributed to any team he is on.
Among the greats:
Now let’s put that into context. What I found looking into Tramon’s stats was a solid player who deserves recognition in the annals of Green Bay Packers history, but not Canton. The first thing I gained looking into historic Packers statistics was an even greater respect for Nick Collins. His highlights and statistics make me furious with the football gods for ending his career far too soon. But let’s get back to another historic Packers defensive back. Tramon’s greatest quality is always being there. This is not just referring to his games played either. Tramon has the most passes defended in Packers history, by far, with 26 more than Charles Woodson at number two. The overall statistics make me love Woodson more as well considering he only spent 6 years in Green Bay. Tramon’s tackle numbers are top 10, as are his interceptions. However, the longer I look, the more I realize that Tramon Williams was more an all-around solid team player rather than an elite HOF caliber defensive back the likes of Charles Woodson, Leroy Butler, or Nick Collins.
How will he be remembered:
Looking at all-time NFL numbers, Tramon is still impressive, just not with the heavy hitters. Among defensive backs all time, he is tied for 143th in interceptions, tied for 151st for forced fumbles, and 94th for combined tackles (since they began being recorded in 1987). There are only two statistics where you could consider Tramon historically elite. Tramon Williams ranks eighth all-time in passes defended and 14th in games played. Like I said, he is always there. So here’s to the future Packer Hall of Famer. He may not end up in Canton, but he will always remain in the hearts of Packer fans. He will be remembered as one of the players, teammates, and men to put on the Green Bay uniform.
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