The Pittsburgh Steelers really enjoyed having linebacker Vince Williams around to play linebacker throughout his career. He was never a flashy guy that would pop up on highlight reels on a regular basis, but he was a very good player that could do whatever the coaches asked him to do. He was the exact kind of player that every team wants on their roster. He had the ability to learn the game inside and out while communicating it to others if needed. It didn't matter if he was a special teamer or wearing the green dot: he made an impact.
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Former Steelers linebacker Vince Williams (98) runs off the field in emphatic fashion following a road game during his NFL career.
That idea came up when Williams was due for an extension. While making an appearance on The Standard, he explained the conversation that he had with his agent about chasing the money and becoming a big piece elsewhere, or staying put in Pittsburgh.
"After I had eight sacks and was about to sign my large deal, my agent was like, 'Vince, if you hit the open market, you could probably make a lot more than what the Steelers are going to pay you,'" Williams explained. "And I was like, 'Yeah, but then I wouldn't be a Steeler, and I wouldn't be a part of this.' I think being a part of this is a big thing, because not only the way they treat you, but also the infrastructure they surround you with is really just conduced to the personal success."
Previously on that show, Williams admitted that he grew up a Steelers fan while also saying the way they do things is better suited for these young players that are learning to compete at the NFL level. His mindset was that while he could receive a ton of money from a linebacker-needy team and be a starter, he wouldn't be nearly as good with them as he had been with Pittsburgh.
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Vince Williams (98) and Ryan Shazier (50) celebrate a big moment on the field
2017 was a big year for Williams, as he had career-highs in most stats that season, including sacks, tackles, and quarterback hits. On a unit that really lacked talent and stability at the time, he was one of the few bright spots. He started all 16 games at middle linebacker while still making plays on special teams whenever he needed to. Getting him off the field was a challenge for the coaches.
His solid wok on defense combined with his intense knowledge of the game led to this dilemma in 2018: accept a relatively low offer from the Steelers, or let other teams bid on his services and make more. He opted to sign a three-year extension worth $18.6 million, where all but $300,000 of his guaranteed money came from the signing bonus. That is the definition of taking a hometown discount.
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Steelers linebacker Vince Williams lays a hit on a teammate at training camp in Latrobe.
Williams was released after the 2020 season, but he was eventually signed back. However, his struggles to keep up with everyone else led to him retiring on his own terms, as opposed to making the Steelers cut him. He gave everything he had physically to this team, and despite how little he was compensated for how great he was, his comments strongly indicate that he would not have had it any other way.
Steelers Badly Missed Williams After His Retirement
For a couple years after Williams retired, the Steelers had issues signing and developing quality inside linebackers, as that position became the weak part of the defense during the early 2020s. It wasn't until 2023 when quality coaching and players combined to make a strong unit, although it still wasn't very stable until 2024 due to a plethora of injures. During that time, they desperately needed a guy like Williams.
What do you think about Williams turning down millions of dollars because he wanted to spend his entire career with the Steelers? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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