Steelers give ILB Vince Williams a 4-year contract
In an interview last month when he was asked to assess his future in football, inside linebacker Vince Williams set a lofty goal.
“I want to die a Pittsburgh Steeler,” Williams said.
Williams didn’t get a lifetime contract with the Steelers on Thursday, but he got the next best thing – a four-year deal that will keep him with the organization through the 2021 season.
Williams, 28, signed his contract just hours after kicker Chris Boswell agreed to a five-year deal. The two contracts tie up some unfinished financial business before the start of the regular season. Training camp and the preseason is when the Steelers negotiate with players who are entering the final year of their contract.
The only remaining player who is healthy and fits into that category is tight end Jesse James.
Williams wasn’t made available to the media Thursday, but he spoke with the team website.
“I take pride in being in Pittsburgh. It’s a hard-nosed group of individuals who work here. I feel like the people here are no nonsense, hard-working individuals. They are proud people too. I love this place,” Williams told Steelers.com.
“There have been so many great players that have played for the Steelers, so many great linebackers. Just the legacy here. The history. It’s so deep and rich. I really feel like I can relate to the people of Pittsburgh.”
Although he wasn’t drafted until the sixth round in 2013, Williams has since signed three contracts with the Steelers. Aside from his four-year rookie contract, Williams essentially was given a two-year extension before the start of the 2016 season.
That deal was scheduled to expire after this season.
With the departure of Lawrence Timmons in free agency, Williams became a full-time starter last season and set career highs with 88 tackles and eight sacks while starting all 16 regular-season games. He finished third on the team in tackles and was second to Cam Heyward in sacks.
Williams was the only returning starter at his position because of Ryan Shazier’s spinal cord injury.
Joe Rutter is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Joe at jrutter@tribweb.com or via Twitter @tribjoerutter.
