LONGVIEW’S WILLIAMS AIMING FOR TITLE | Mom Veronica talks about her son, and the Super Bowl within his grasp
He’s a long way from the playgrounds of Longview and those Friday Night Lights, playing for the Lobos where he laid the foundation to become what many consider the best offensive lineman in the NFL today.
Being in Super Bowl LVIII is a dream come true for Trent Williams, the left tackle and anchor of the San Francisco 49ers’ offensive line.
His mother, Veronica, agreed to that, saying as much earlier this week from her home in Longview. “Definitely, a dream come true for me too. I’d like to see them win it.
“Yes, without a doubt, I’m very excited. I’ve been looking forward to this day for a long time, for his whole career really.”
Trent is the middle of three children of Veronica and Freddie Williams. Miranda, his sister, lives in Longview while his older brother Fredrick (38) calls Houston home.
His mom and sister Miranda will be in attendance for the biggest game of the year at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada at 5:30 p.m. Central Time on Sunday evening.
Williams and the NFC Champion 49ers (14-5) will be playing in Super Bowl LVIII against the AFC Champion Kansas City Chiefs (12-6) for the championship. It’s his first Super Bowl, and the dream of any young football prodigy worth his weight in shoulder pads on a playground anywhere.
At times, the number four pick of the Washington Redskins in first round of the 2010 draft, wondered if he would ever see the playoffs, much less a Super Bowl, as a player. It’s a rematch of the big game four years ago which the Mahomes and the Chiefs won 31-20. Not for Williams and his family, though.
Now, Williams, who will be 36 in July, already has 11 Pro Bowl bids, and is recognized by some as the best left tackle of his generation. He’s a first-team All-Pro each of the last three seasons, when he allowed just two sacks on 1,663 pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
He’s played 14 seasons, 10 of them with Washington. This will be his 11th playoff game. In his time, injuries to his thumb, foot, elbow, knee and at one time a life-threatening cancerous growth (sarcoma) on his scalp have been problematic.
Despite those injuries, the veteran, wearing No. 71, anchors a running game featuring Christian McCaffrey, that averages right at 6 yards per carry when they run to the left side. Granted, the 49ers are probably the best team. They’re ranked third in points scored per game (28.9), second in yards per game (398.4), fourth in rushing yards per game (140.5), but they don’t have quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who is also from East Texas (Whitehouse, near Tyler).
Mahomes – last year’s Super Bowl MVP – and the Chiefs have won two of the last four Super Bowls and are looking to make it three in five years. If that’s not a dynasty, it’s close.
“We try to talk several times a week, but sometimes with his schedule it can be difficult,” she said.
Mrs. Williams tries to see five games a season. She’s already reached that limit, seeing the 49ers face the Dallas Cowboys earlier at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, and the two playoff games in which the 49ers needed to rally against the Packers (24-21) in the NFC Divisional Playoff, and the Detroit Lions (34-31) a week later in the NFC Championship to reach their eighth Super Bowl.
The 49ers were a 2-1/2 point favorite at midweek.
No, Williams, an All-America and a four-year starter at Oklahoma, isn’t as recognizable as Mahomes. But nobody else is either, except maybe Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and his girlfriend Taylor Swift.
The Chiefs weren’t as methodical early in the season, but have found their playoff mojo again, beating Miami and then defeating Buffalo and Baltimore on the road.
Williams signed a six-year extension with the ‘Niners in March of 2021, becoming the highest paid offensive lineman in the game, following sitting out 2019 with the cancerous growth with the then Redskins.
Asked if she thought her son liked playing for the 49ers more than the Commanders, Mrs. Williams didn’t hesitate, “Sure. I think he’s happier.”
As life teaches us all, there are no guarantees as Veronica, a mother, well knows and that’s why she’s hoping her son, the big guy, and his teammates make the most of this opportunity of a lifetime.
Here’s Williams (71) in action, alongside his 49ers teammates, against the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship Game. (Photo courtesy of THEDAY.COM)