2015 DETROIT LIONS MEDIA GUIDE

in 2014 (LB DeAndre Levy, Week 1; DE Ezekiel
Ansah, Week 6).
‣ ¾ Ihedigbo followed closely behind with four interceptions
in 2014, as he was tied for fifth among
all NFL safeties. In his first season in Detroit,
he finished with 71 total tackles (59 solo),
two sacks (10 yards), eight pass defenses, a
career-high three forced fumbles and one fumble
recovery after missing the first three games of
the season due to injury.
‣ ¾ As a unit, the Lions safeties led the NFL in
interceptions with 11 and ranked fourth in pass
defenses with 20.
‣ ¾ A security valve for both the Lions secondary
and special teams units, S Don Carey recorded
his first-career fumble return touchdown in Week
3 vs. Green Bay (9/21) on a 40-yard scoop and
score in the first quarter. In his 13 games in 2014
he registered seven tackles (six solo) and five
special teams tackles (four solo).
‣ ¾ S Isa Abdul-Quddus emerged as a valuable contributor
in nickel packages and on special teams
in his first season in Detroit as he recorded 29
tackles (19 solo) and two pass defenses.
During Williams’ tenure as defensive coordinator
in Minnesota (2012-13), the Vikings were tied for
seventh in sacks with 85 and ninth in tackles for
loss with 91. In 2013, the Vikings defense overcame
a variety of injuries as three players in the defensive
backfield, S Andrew Sendejo, CB Marcus Sherels
and CB Shaun Prater, logged their first career
interceptions under Williams’ watch. Veteran DE
Jared Allen led the team in sacks with 11.5, his
seventh straight season with 10+ sacks, as fellow
DE Brian Robison recorded a career-best nine.
Williams spent a decade coaching the
Indianapolis Colts secondary where he worked
with some of the League’s most elite defensive
backfield talent, including S Antoine Bethea and
S Bob Sanders. From 2002-11, the Colts ranked in
the Top-6 in the NFL in passing defense five times
and finished out of the Top-15 only once. Williams
guided Bethea (2007, 2009) and Sanders (2005,
2007) to two Pro Bowl seasons each. Sanders was
named AP Defensive Player of the Year in 2007, the
first Colts player to ever receive the honor.
From 2002-10, the Colts earned nine-consecutive
playoff berths, during which the defense recorded
18 interceptions in the playoffs, including seven
during the team’s playoff-run to their Super Bowl
XLI win over Chicago in 2006. Williams’ secondary
also helped the Colts defense in 2008 set an NFL
record for fewest passing touchdowns allowed
with six, the lowest number ever surrendered in a
16-game season.
Williams began his NFL coaching career with
the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2001 as a defensive
assistant under former head coach Tony Dungy,
where he worked with All-Pro players in the likes
of John Lynch and Ronde Barber. That season,
Williams coached alongside current Cowboys
Assistant Head Coach of Defense Monte Kiffin
and Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin as the Bucs
finished 9-7 and earned an NFC Wild Card berth.
A former standout running back at William &
Mary from 1988-91, Williams later returned to his
alma mater where he coached the running backs
and defensive backs for five seasons (1996-2000).
DETROIT LIONS
His first coaching stint was as an assistant head
coach at Norview (Va.) High School where he
kindled his craft for working with running backs
and defensive backs from 1992-95.
Williams was born November 4, 1969. He is a
native of Norfolk, Va. and he and his wife, Lisa, have
three children – Christian, Solomon and Nathan.
WILLIAMS’ COACHING BACKGROUND
Detroit Lions................................................. 2014-
Defensive Backs/Safeties.........................................2014-
Minnesota Vikings......................................2012-13
Defensive Coordinator........................................... 2012-13
Indianapolis Colts.......................................2002-11
Defensive Backs..................................................... 2002-11
Tampa Bay Buccaneers....................................2001
Defensive Assistant......................................................2001
William & Mary......................................1996-2000
Defensive Backs.................................................1998-2000
Running Backs........................................................ 1996-97
Norview (Va.) High School..........................1992-95
Assistant Head Coach/RBs/DBs......................... 1992-95
STEVEN
WILLIAMS
Defensive Quality Control
Years with Lions: 1
Years in NFL: 1
Williams joins the Lions coaching staff after
spending the past three years at Penn State
University, where he worked with several areas
of the Nittany Lions football program. In 2012,
he arrived on the State College, Pa., campus
and served one season as assistant strength
and conditioning coach (2012) and then was an
offensive/defensive graduate assistant during his
final two seasons.
In 2011, Williams began his college coaching
career as a graduate assistant at the University
of South Carolina working with the Gamecocks
strength and conditioning program, as well as the
team’s defensive backs and special teams.
Prior to his stint at South Carolina, Williams
spent three years (2008-2010) as a teacher and
assistant football coach at Karen Wagner High
School in San Antonio, Texas.
Williams graduated from Harvard University
in 2008 and was a standout on the gridiron for
the Crimson. During his college career, he set the
school’s career record for interceptions (16) and
tied Harvard’s record for interceptions in a singleseason
(8). While at Harvard he earned first-team
AFCA All-America honors and was unanimous
all-conference as a senior. Following graduation,
Williams participated in the 2008 Detroit Lions
Rookie Mini-Camp as a tryout invitee.
WILLIAMS’ COACHING BACKGROUND
Detroit Lions................................................. 2015-
Defensive Quality Control.........................................2015-
Penn State.................................................2012-14
Defensive Graduate Assistant...................................2014
Offensive Graduate Assistant............................. 2012-13
Assistant Strength and Conditioning.......................2012
South Carolina................................................2011
Graduate Assistant.......................................................2011
Karen Wagner (Texas) High School..............2008-10
Assistant Coach...................................................... 2008-10
EXECUTIVES AND COACHING