­­­Broncos Sign LB D.J. Williams to Contract Extension Through 2013

By the Denver Broncos
Posted Sunday, September 7, 2008

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos on Sunday signed linebacker D.J. Williams to a five-year contract extension through the 2013 season, Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced.

In his fifth NFL season, Williams has started 62 games with the Broncos since they selected him in the first round (17th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft from the University of Miami. He is the club’s only defensive player to appear in all 67 possible Broncos games (regular season and playoffs) during the past four years while seeing time at all three linebacker positions.

Williams, who has started at least 14 games in each of his four seasons, owns 438 career tackles (316 solo), four sacks (35 yds.) and two interceptions (10 yds.). He also has posted 21 pass breakups, seven forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries along with 10 special-teams tackles during his career.

While playing the middle linebacker position for the first time in his career in 2007, Williams started all 16 games and recorded the highest tackle total (170) by a Bronco in five seasons. According to press box statistics, he led the AFC and ranked second in the NFL in tackles.

In 2004, Williams became the first rookie in Broncos history to lead the team in tackles (114). He finished third in the Associated Press’ NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year voting and received Pro Football Weekly/PFWA All-Rookie honors.

Williams was a three-year starter at Miami, where he was a two-time first-team All-Big East Conference selection and helped the Hurricanes to a national championship victory as a sophomore. He earned USA Today Defensive Player of the Year honors at De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif.

Williams was born on July 20, 1982, in Sacramento, Calif.