Gerald Williams played DT for the Auburn Tigers from 1982-’85.
The big man posted 123 total tackles 8 tackles for loss, and 5 sacks in 1984.
He’d earn consensus All-SEC honors in ’85, with 86 total tackles, 6 tackles for loss, and 9 sacks.
A second round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1986 where the team employed him at NT in their 3-4 alignment.
In 1990 he led the Steelers with 6 sacks- recording 5 of them over the final 5 contests of the season.
Considered the Steelers best lineman during that era, he led the down linemen in tackles from 1989-92.
He’d move out to left defensive end in 1993, but a knee injury ended his campaign after 8 contests.
Left exposed by the Steelers during the expansion draft in 1995, Gerald was selected by the Carolina Panthers.
He’d play for the franchise at RDE for about 2 and a half seasons.
In 1997 he’d be cut after 5 games and finish his career on the roster of the Packers.
NOTES:
One of the great unheralded nose tackles of his era, Gerald is one of those players who brought his lunch pail to every contest. He’s dabbled in coaching and front office work since his retirement.
CARDS: Panini UT 2015, Panini UT 2015 S, SAGE Hit 2013, Bowman 2013, Topps 2013, Leaf Draft 2013, Topps Magic 2013, Razor 2009, Panini Rookies & Stars 2013, Score 2013, UT Upper Deck 2011 HACK ACQUIRED: IP, 2024
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Local talent Alex Okafor decided to take his skillset to the University of Texas.
For the Longhorns, he played from 2009-2012 at defensive end.
In his Senior campaign he had 54 total tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles.
During his final game in burnt orange, he set an Alamo Bowl record with 4.5 sacks, as UT defeated Oregon State 31-27.
Drafted in the 4th round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals.
His rookie season was a wash- as a biceps injury sidelined him for the vast majority of the season.
In 2014, he flew under the radar, recording 8 sacks, 30 tackles, 3 pass deflections, and an interception.
Signed with the New Orleans Saints in 2017.
Had a career high 43 total tackles, 4 pass deflections, and 4.5 sacks- before an Achilles injury ended his season after 10 games.
Signed with the Chiefs in 2019.
Finished on IR after tearing a pectoral muscle that year, but not before he tallied 22 tackles and 5 sacks.
Suffered a hamstring injury in 2020- but still managed 21 total tackles and a forced fumble.
Retired after the 2021 season.
NOTES:
These events that Texas Sports Unfiltered has been hosting at the Bee Cave Covert GMC have been a real treat. We’re served lunch. A player comes in and signs a bunch of autographs and answers any questions that we may have.
Alex was extremely cordial and friendly to all the fans in attendance. He labored to sign each and every one of our items. In my case, I had traded one of the extra HACK UT UD 2011 cards I had created. It caught his eye when he was signing it for the guy in front of me and he wanted to know where he could get one. They pointed to me.
When he got to me I told him, “I’m more than happy to give him one if he wouldn’t mind signing all my cards for me.” He responded with a very thrilled, “YES!” (There were much more than the 11 here. He signed quite a few dupes so that I could again reward my friends and major participants on our TTM Facebook group.)
He then proceeded to horse trade with other fans who were there for additional cards to fill out his collection he was missing. -I love it when players collect their own cards!
He then answered a bunch of questions for us. One fan asked us who was easiest, hardest, and thrilling to sack. He answered that Tom Brady was the most thrilling to sack as he is such a legend. Alex noted he got to him twice in his career. The hardest was Lamar Jackson. When Lamar gets to the HoF some day, Alex said he’d be on Jackson’s highlight reel. The easiest to sack was Kirk Cousins. He’s just so immobile in the pocket. (Coincidentally, Alex made his first two career sacks on Kirk.)
I asked him about his monster grill facemask, (that you can see on his Bowman and SAGE Hit cards). What was his plan? Would he eventually have a grill going up the entire mask? When would it end? He laughed and said at the previous Super Bowl he was inspired by Justin Tuck of the Giants who led the d-line and had that multi-bar facemask.
He asked the equipment guy if he could get one for him from Riddell. Their response was, “I dunno…” but come Spring in 2012 it was ready to roll. Suddenly the multi bar facemask became all the brief rage. You had guys going all out (See Tavaris Barnes). Then as quickly as it happened, the NCAA and the NFL put an end to that form of expression. No explanation given. I’m sure they would have cited, ‘player safety’ but within 3 seasons it was over. No more multibars.
It’s always good to meet fellow collectors- especially card nuts like myself. While Mark G. was there to keep me grounded and provide me with a few cards I didn’t have, I met his friends Josh (an absolute monster UT collector) and Andrew (a collector with a solid depth of cards).
After discussing with Josh for a while our fandom, I had mentioned how I missed out on Alex Okafor’s UT Panini 2015 Parallel card. He offered to trade it to me for something else. -I know he really, really wanted my UT Hack, but I didn’t have anymore extras. He ended up trading me for a Panini Prism Okafor that I had gotten in exchange for the other Hack I traded to someone else- so it worked out! An absolute banger of an event.
Since retirement, Alex has pursued his passion: Teaching, improving education, reducing bullying, and reading. During his time in Kansas City he started a program that brought players into local classroom to read to kids at public schools. Currently he’s on the school board in his local hometown.
TAC
SAC
FUM
INT
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
147
31.5
6
1
26
26.0
0
26
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
