On the field, Reggie Williams was an ever-present force of nature, proudly wearing no. 57 for 14 seasons as a member of Tabari's hometown Cincinnati Bengals. And now, the renaissance man that is the former NFL player/politician/businessman/author is the featured guest on the 80th episode of A Tight 45 with Tabari McCoy!
A native of Flint, MI, Williams was the Bengals third-round draft pick in 1976 out of Darmouth University, the same college where he was awarded an academic scholarship. Eventually graduating with his degree in an A.B. in psychology (after also winning an Ivy League wrestling championship), he would become a force on the gridiron for the Bengals, where he would play in both Super Bowl XVI (1981) – he led the Bengals defense with a team-high 11 sacks and second most tackles with 106 – and XXIII (1988) .
Football wouldn't be the only place Williams would make his mark, however, as he would go on to be appointed to and win re-election of a seat on Cincinnati City Council in the late 1980s. This is in addition to the two year span that saw him win the Byron "Whizzer" White Award for Humanitarian Service (1985), NFL Man of the Year (1986) and Sports Illustrated's Co-Sportsmen of the Year (1987). After retiring from football, he would go on to work as the director of sports development for Disney - yes, THAT Disney – helping to develop the World Wide of Sports complex that is still thriving today.
On this episode (out on all major platforms on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022), Williams chats with Tabari about life in the NFL, the litany of injuries he has dealt with post-football, his dual existence as a football player and politician and why cannabis is important to his quality of life today. There's even a question that only Tabari would ask which Williams provides an answer to as only he can – but you'll have to listen to the whole episode to find out what that is!
Check out this episode and others you may have missed at https://atight45.buzzsprout.com/or wherever you get your podcasts today! For more on Tabari or ask a question, be sure to visit www.tabarimccoy.com or email tabari@tabarimccoy.com.