A sixth-round pick draft pick, Williams has played a pivotal role on defense since the early stages of his career. When Larry Foote was lost for the season due to a biceps injury, it was Williams that emerged as his replacement. He started eleven games as a rookie that was expected to see nothing more than special teams duty.
The following year, the Steelers drafted Ryan Shazier with their first-round selection. There was a definite need for depth at inside linebacker, and Shazier was touted as a starter from day one. Along with Shazier, Sean Spence returned in 2014 after a gruesome knee injury in 2012 nearly ended his career.