Jonah Williams, the Arizona Cardinals’ offensive tackle, experienced a moment of glory on Sunday, scoring his first touchdown since the sixth grade during a 30-17 victory over the New England Patriots.
“I planned it, I practiced it,” Williams said with a hint of humor. “It’s such a random play to get so much praise for.”
The 6-foot-5, 312-pound lineman had been listed as questionable due to illness but managed to contribute significantly to the game. Late in the first quarter, with the Cardinals leading 3-0, the team advanced to the Patriots’ 8-yard line. After a handoff to Arizona wide receiver Greg Dortch, who fumbled while being tackled, Williams sprang into action. He executed a crucial block on Patriots defensive lineman Daniel Ekuale and dove to recover the loose ball just before it crossed into the end zone, preventing a potential touchback.
Initially unsure of the outcome, Williams hesitated to celebrate until teammate Paris Johnson Jr. confirmed that he had indeed scored. “I was like, what? How’s that work?” Williams remarked, reflecting on the unexpected nature of the play.
This touchdown marked a significant milestone for Williams, who had not found the end zone since his youth football days with the Atlanta Colts in Georgia. “I remember the hole opened up, it was 30-trap, the center climbed the linebacker and I just hid behind him,” he recalled with a smile. “I almost got hogged by a nose guard — it was really embarrassing. That’s probably why it was my last chance to run the ball.”
A seasoned player, Williams has spent nearly a decade in the NFL trenches. After a standout career at Folsom High School in California and three years at Alabama, where he earned third-team All-America honors, he was drafted 11th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2019. Unfortunately, a shoulder injury derailed his rookie season. Despite setbacks, including a knee injury in 2020, he became a key player for the Bengals, starting 49 games over three seasons.
Williams signed a two-year deal with the Cardinals during the offseason but faced another knee injury that sidelined him for nine games. He returned to the lineup on November 24 against Seattle and has since started in four consecutive games, including the pivotal match against the Patriots that kept Arizona’s playoff hopes alive.
“That was an excellent play by him, just maxing out effort,” praised Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon.
Williams’ first NFL touchdown is a moment he will cherish, especially since the Cardinals’ equipment staff saved the ball for him. “I kept that one forever,” he said of his sixth-grade touchdown. “That’s my pride and joy.” The ball from his NFL debut will undoubtedly hold a special place in his collection.
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