Milton Williams is gearing up for a significant moment in his career as he aims to secure his second consecutive Super Bowl ring with the New England Patriots. Having already won a championship with the Philadelphia Eagles last season, Williams is set to participate in his third Super Bowl since 2022.
The Patriots find themselves just one victory away from reclaiming their status as Super Bowl champions, with their last title won in 2018. Alongside second-year quarterback Drake Maye and head coach Mike Vrabel, Williams has played a pivotal role in the team”s success this season, following his big offseason signing worth four years and $104 million.
At the Super Bowl LX Opening Night, Williams expressed his excitement, stating, “It”s great, man. I just say I”m blessed to be in this situation. This is my third Super Bowl in five years. It”s crazy. You know, people always talk about guys not going their entire career, playing 10-12 years and not going. It”s just great, man.”
In his first season with the Patriots, Williams made a notable impact on the field, accumulating 3.5 sacks, 15 solo tackles, and 9.5 tackles for loss. His experience is particularly valuable for a relatively young Patriots team, as only four players on the roster have playoff experience, including Williams, who has participated in 12 career playoff games.
Reflecting on the team”s journey, Williams recalled a moment early in the season when coach Vrabel asked players to raise their hands if they had been playing football at this time the previous year. “I was the only guy to raise my hand, so it was kind of weird,” he said. “But I”m just happy for all the guys to be able to raise their hand. To be like, all right, ask that question next year. We were there in that same situation, in the Super Bowl.”
Among the other players with playoff experience are wide receiver Stefon Diggs (17 games), cornerback Carlton Davis III (12 games), and tight end Austin Hooper (10 games). Williams” presence on the field, particularly in front of Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, could be crucial during the game.
Despite the Patriots being recognized as the eighth-best defense in the NFL this season, they struggled with pass rush, totaling only 35 sacks. However, they excelled at stopping the run, ranking sixth overall by allowing just 101.7 rushing yards per game. Williams will likely draw significant attention from the Seahawks” offensive line, which could play a role in how Darnold performs under pressure against one of the toughest defenses in the league.
