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PLAYER BIO6-1 | 203 | MARYLAND | 8TH YEAR | BORN 10.18.81 | FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONEACQUIRED FA IN ‘11 | DUVAL HS, LANHAM, MDKnown for his impact both on and off the field, Madieu Williamsprovides the 49ers with veteran experience in the secondary afterjoining San Francisco in 2011. Originally a second-round draft pick byCincinnati in 2004, Williams spent his first four NFL seasons in withthe Bengals before playing three seasons as a member of the MinnesotaVikings. Williams showed his versatility early in his career,starting games at CB, FS and SS during his rookie campaign. Knownfor his efforts in the community, both national and international, theSierra Leone native earned the coveted Walter Payton Man of theYear award in 2010.// TRANSACTIONSOriginally a 2nd-round (56th overall) draft choice by Cin. in the2004 NFL Draft...Signed as an unrestricted free agent by Min. on2/29/08...Released by Min. on 7/28/11...Signed by SF on 8/3/11.// AWARDS & HONORS2010: Walter Payton Man of the Year2006: All-Joe Team// GOLDMINE• Madieu joined elite company among his NFL peers by earning the2010 Walter Payton Man of the Year award for his service to community,both in the U.S. and overseas. Among his efforts includedserving as the Vikings 2009 spokesman for United Way, workingwith Twin Cities youth through his Dieu’s Crew program and beingrecognized by the University of Maryland as a Distinguished Alumniby the School of Public Health in spring of 2009. His Madieu WilliamsFoundation works with kids to encourage a healthy lifestyleand education. After signing a free agent contract with Vikings,Madieu honored his commitment to build a playground in Cincinnatiduring spring of 2008, partnering with the non-profit Kaboom! onthe project. He has a website associated with his foundation- www.madieuwilliams.org.• Madieu donated $2 million to the University of Maryland to createthe Madieu Williams Center for Global Health Initiatives. Its purposeis to research and implement new ways to improve education andhealth care in impoverished nations such as Sierra Leone.• Madieu spent his childhood in Sierra Leone before moving to the UntiedStates at the age of 9 and settling with family in Maryland. Whilein his native country, his mother, a nurse, would take him on herrounds through hospital wards. It was there where he learned theimportance of giving. The Williams were poor, themselves, living ina ramshackle, two-story building that seemed forever in danger ofcollapse, but Madieu’s mother gave to others whatever she could. Hehas since donated money to open a school outside of Sierra Leone’scapital city of Freetown, in a district where there had been none, andhe still returns annually to Sierra Leone to monitor the progress ofhis programs.// 2010 (MINNESOTA)• Notched career-high 96 tackles in 14 games (13 starts).• Tied career-high with 11 tackles at NYJ (10/11).• Recorded an INT off Packers QB Aaron Rodgers at GB (10/24) andshared a sack of QB Derek Anderson vs. Arz. (11/7), splitting the sackwith Jared Allen. .// 2009 (MINNESOTA)• Led Vikings defensive backs and ranked 4th on team with 76 tackles,starting every single game.• Notched 5 tackles in Divisional Round game vs. Dal. (1/17/10) and 6stops in NFC Championship game at NO (1/24/10).// 2008 (MINNESOTA)• Started final 9 games of the season and tallied 45 tackles and 2 INTs.• Intercepted a pass vs. Hou. (11/2) off QB Sage Rosenfels, becomingthe 8th player in Vikings history to record an INT in their 1st gamewith the club.• Recorded 5 tackles in the Wild Card Playoff vs. Phi. (1/4/09).// 2007 (CINCINNATI)• Posted first career game with a FF and a FR vs. Bal. (9/10).// 2006 (CINCINNATI)• Started all 16 games and played the most snaps of any Bengals player,tying a career-high with 3 INTs.• Tied a career-high with 11 tackles at TB (10/15).• Posted Bengals first INT of the season in opener at KC (9/10) whenhe picked off a QB Trent Green pass.// 2005 (CINCINNATI)• Had a season-high 9 tackles and intercepted Bears QB Kyle Ortonat Chi. (9/25).SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS \\173// MEDIA GUIDE