Former Cowboys receiver Terrance Williams carving out niche in pro flag football league

Terrance Williams made a career of hauling in big catches during his time in the NFL. The former Cowboys wideout was a constant fixture as a receiving threat for five years in Dallas, serving as the secondary threat behind Dez Bryant as he reeled in 20 TDs over the course of his tenure.

Williams signed a four-year, $17 million extension with the ‘Boys in 2017 after three productive stints following his rookie year, including a solid 2016 campaign in which he boasted the highest catch percentage (72.1) of his career.

But the two sides wouldn’t see the length of that contract fully play out. He started 14 games (appearing in all 16) during the first year of his new deal, racking up 568 yards on 53 receptions (the most of his career).

His 2018 season though, was derailed due to a nagging foot injury that reared itself after he underwent offseason surgery. Williams only suited up for three games that year, before Dallas declined his option heading into 2019, making him a free agent.

It would be his last go round taking snaps for an NFL team, but far from his final venture on the football field. Williams soon joined the XFL, joining the St. Louis BattleHawks after being taken by the team in the league’s supplemental draft. Shortly after that brief union, Williams found a football avenue he’s confident will be a steady home for years to come: the AFFL.

Launched by Jeff Lewis in 2017, the American Flag Football League hosts highly-competitive 60-minute 7-on-7 games featuring some well-known names, as well as an innovative women’s division.

Williams told me he decided to partake in the league after being recruited by a friend.

“I had heard about it before because of some of the great guys who had played in it, like Terrell Owens and Michael Vick.

The stuff the league is doing is game-changing. Women are playing football. Some people are just reliving their childhood dream. To see this amount of people come around, it’s going to create a huge demand of people trying to play.

They’re bringing the best players from across the country, across the world. It’s just going to bring the best out of you.”

It’s the exact type of high-octane competition that Lewis envisioned when he created the league.

“You’re going to be watching NFL caliber, D1 caliber, Olympic caliber athletes. These guys are forces to be reckoned with,” Lewis commented.

The sport really brings out the uniqueness and the true personalities of these athletes without the helmets. Men and women play it all around the world. This is going to be in the Olympics in 2028.”

The league is already on the fast track to success. They’ve inked television broadcasting deals with both NFL Network and CBS Sports, the latter of whom will begin showcasing games this summer.

As for Williams, his Your Tax Gurus team is set to compete in the quarterfinals on Sat, Aug. 14 in Houston, where he’ll face off against former Giants CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. The matchup will be broadcast live on Facebook.

Williams certainly has his sights set on a win in the game, plus the $200,000 grand prize that accompanies a tournament championship down the road. But his attention has not drifted too far from the first team he called his own.

On the Cowboys this year, he had this say:

“I think with the moves they made, the Cowboys will play the Bills in the Super Bowl.

What more can you ask for with three talented, talented guys; Gallup, Cooper and CeeDee? Then you have Zeke — you can’t put nine, 10 guys in the box, you have to play true to your coverages. I’m excited to watch. I really do believe they have the best receiving corps in the league. They can play slot, outside, go deep, short whatever. You just hope it all plays out cause they have the team to do it.”

Cowboys fans would surely love to see that prediction come to light.