A former Minnesota Vikings cornerback has announced his retirement from the NFL at just 28-years old.
Joejuan Williams, a cornerback who played for the Vikings in 2023, posted on Instagram that he was hanging up the cleats after four seasons in the league.
“At 5 years old I said I’ll be in the NFL. You accomplished your dream J. Now it’s time to help others accomplish theirs,” Williams wrote.
“Thank You God for blessing me with this ability. And thank you football for changing my life forever. I came from nothing. This game transformed my life, gave me purpose, discipline, memories, relationships, and experiences I’ll carry forever.
Thank you to every Coach that worked with me, every teammate I shared the field with, and the support from my family, friends and fans. Now the same dream I once chased and accomplished…It’s time to impact the game by helping others accomplish theirs.
Excited for this next chapter. Forever grateful for the journey.”
Former Viking Joejuan Williams Calls it a Career
Williams was a second-round pick by the New England Patriots in 2019, and played one season for the Vikings before getting waived ahead of the 2024 season. Williams had two separate stints with the Vikings after getting claimed off the practice squad by the Chicago Bears for a brief period before making his way back to Minnesota. He appeared in two games for Minnesota and finished his career with 32 tackles and 10 passes defended.
While the Williams signing was intriguing at the time, he never quite found footing with the Vikings. Still, he had a productive college career at Vanderbilt, notching 119 tackles, four interceptions and 14 passes defended.
Williams Joins Several Other Former Vikings to Retire This Month
This week has been eventful for former Vikings deciding to call it a career. Former quarterback Taylor Heinicke retired earlier this month, and Jaren Hall followed that up not long after. Hall was head coach Kevin O’Connell’s first quarterback that he drafted, and looked promising until injuries derailed his development. The fifth-round pick out of BYU played for Minnesota in 2023, and eventually tried his hand in the UFL before finally announcing his retirement from football.
Still, Hall felt proud of his career, and what the future holds next.
“There’s a lot I could say, but mostly I just feel grateful,” wrote Hall on Instagram.
“Sports have been woven into nearly every part of my life- they’ve challenged me, humbled me, shaped my faith, introduced me to lifelong friendships, and given me experiences I never could have imagined. From growing up in this community to representing my hometown, to having the opportunity to play in the NFL, it has all been a blessing.
What I’ll carry most isn’t the milestones, but the people– teammates, coaches, family, and a community that supported me every step of the way.
My heart is full as I close this chapter and finish my football career. I’m thankful to everyone who’s been part of the journey.
The game has given me more than I could ever give back.”
Former Vikings Cornerback Calls It a Career After Four Seasons in the NFL