The New England Patriots drafted cornerback Joejuan Williams out of Vanderbilt in 2019, and he has announced his retirement at just 28 years old.
Williams took to Instagram to announce his retirement with a lengthy message thanking those who helped him throughout his football journey.
"At 5 years old, I said I'll be in the NFL," Williams wrote on Instagram. "You accomplished your dream J. Now it’s time to help others accomplish theirs. Thank You, God, for blessing me with this ability. And thank you, football, for changing my life forever. I came from nothing. This game transformed my life, gave me purpose, discipline, memories, relationships, and experiences I’ll carry forever. Thank you to every Coach that worked with me, every teammate I shared the field with, and the support from my family, friends and fans. Now the same dream I once chased and accomplished… It’s time to impact the game by helping others accomplish theirs. Excited for this next chapter. Forever grateful for the journey."
Williams was a talented player in college, but he did not find the same success in the NFL. The Patriots invested a high draft pick in him, but he made just one start in 36 games with the team. He recorded 44 tackles and no interceptions with the Patriots. He missed the entire 2022 season with a shoulder injury and then ended up spending time with the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings in 2023.
His time in the NFC North did not yield great results either. He had just two tackles and two passes defended across six games with the Bears and Vikings.
Williams was the second selection the Patriots made in the 2019 NFL Draft. The first selection was N'Keal Harry, who also turned out to be a bust.
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