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A couple of weeks ago, after spending the first month-and-a-half of the Canadian Football League season on the Redblacks’ six-game injured list, the soon-to-be-27-year-old Williams sent off an email informing the CFL he was retiring. There was no fanfare, no retirement party, no press conference. That isn’t who or what Connor Williams is. As loud and violent as he was on a football field, Williams is quiet away from it. The last thing he wanted was a big fuss being created.
“I’m more of a private person,” Williams said. “I’m not too big on making a big scene of things. I haven’t celebrated anything in a long time. The day I was drafted, I didn’t celebrate. I don’t think I’ve celebrated a birthday since I was in elementary school, and I think my mom made me. I don’t like that stuff. ...
“Even when we won the Grey Cup (in 2016), I had the locker-room celebration, then after I made sure my folks got back to the hotel OK, I went back to my room and I was going over in my head, ‘What did I do wrong? What can I improve on?’ I’ve always gone about my business in silence. That’s the way I was raised. I don’t want to hate on anybody else, but nowadays, everybody’s so me, me, me or I, I, I. The world takes all kinds of people to go around; that’s just what I am. I wouldn’t change it because I wouldn’t have done what I did.” ...
A kid who dreamed of playing college football did that and so much more. He was selected 18th overall by the Redblacks in the 2013 CFL draft. In 2014, Williams, who grew up in Kanata (he went to St. James Catholic Elementary and Holy Trinity High School), played 14 games for his hometown team. A back injury limited him to just one game in 2015.
But, healthy again, he came back strong in 2016 in what turned out to be championship season. He played all 18 regular-season games, getting five sacks while starting at both defensive tackle and defensive end. His versatility was a huge asset to the team. In 2017, injuries dogged him and he played in just one game. But earlier this summer, he got a clean bill of health from the doctor. Williams, though, decided it was time to move on, going out on his own terms.