Henry Williams (football)

[edit] Biography

Known affectionately as 'Gizmo' for his similarity to a short, squawky-voiced movie character, Henry Williams' skills caused the CFL to create a 'designated import' spot on each team's roster to allow for a game-breaking return specialist. But nobody else broke open games like Williams through 14 CFL seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos.

Born May 31, 1962 in Memphis, Williams attended East Carolina University before joining the Edmonton Eskimos in 1986 following a stint with the USFL's Memphis Showboats. In 149 regular-season games he returned 26 punts for touchdowns, including five in one season, to set CFL records. Williams also returned three kickoffs and two missed field goals for touchdowns, added 21 TD passes as a part-time receiver and another on a running play.

Undersized (5-foot-6 and 183 pounds) with speedy, hard-charging legs, Williams often punctuated his touchdowns with end-zone flips. He is the CFL's all-time leader in punt returns (1,003), punt-return yardage (11,177), kickoff returns (335) and kickoff-return yardage (7,354). Williams spent the 1989 season with the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles and rejoined the Edmonton Eskimos in 1990. He continued bringing excitement to the fans of Edmonton and amassed more amazing statistics.

While playing his entire CFL career with the Eskimos, Williams made 14 straight postseason appearances. In 22 playoff games Williams returned 94 punts for 857 yards and one touchdown plus he returned 34 kickoffs for 871 yards and one touchdown. In the 1987 Grey Cup game he set a record by returning a missed field goal 115 yards for a touchdown. Williams appeared in five Grey Cup games, helping the Eskimos to victories in 1987 (38-36 over Toronto) and 1993 (33-23 over Winnipeg). He was Edmonton's choice as its outstanding player in 1992. He was a West All-Star seven times (1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997) and a CFL All-Star five times (1987, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994). Williams amassed 23,927 all-purpose yards throughout his entire CFL career. Henry Williams has received numerous awards and honours. He was inducted into the North West Mississippi Junior College Hall of Fame, and became a member of the Eskimo Wall of Honour in 2002.

• Awards and Honours:

• • CFL All-Star Team (Special Teams) -- 1987, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
  • Western All-Star (Special Teams) -- 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997
  • Edmonton Eskimos Wall of Honour -- 2002

• • Grey Cup Participation -- 1987, 1990, 1993, 1996
  • Grey Cup Winning Teams -- 1987, 1993

[edit] Statistics

<stats> Player=Henry Williams (football) Sport=CFL </stats> <stats> Player=Henry Williams (football) Sport=NFL </stats> <stats> Player=Henry Williams (football) Sport=USFL </stats>

[edit] References

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