Shawn Williams is a former NFL safety turned dedicated coach. Born May 13, 1991, in Damascus, Georgia, he was drafted in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals after playing collegiately at Georgia. During his eight-season NFL career—primarily with the Bengals and briefly with the Cardinals and Falcons—Williams recorded 447 tackles, 12 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, and 26 pass deflections. Transitioning to coaching in 2022, he became head football coach at William Paterson University following three years as interim and defensive coordinator. Under his leadership, the Pioneers have achieved record-breaking conference honors and winning seasons. A graduate of Georgia, Williams is known for his leadership on and off the field and continues to develop student-athletes in New Jersey.