The Seattle Seahawks have a big problem, as center Connor Williams, a part of their main offensive line, has suddenly announced his retirement from the NFL. Seahawks head coach Mike McDonald announced the news.
Connor Williams, 27, was in the seventh season of his NFL career and his first with the Seattle Seahawks. He started all nine of the team’s games in 2024 and played 618 offensive snaps this season.
“Retirement for Personal Reasons”
There was already talk that Williams would not play in the Week 11 game against the San Francisco 49ers as he did not attend the weekly practice. His retirement was announced on Friday after he was absent from practice on Wednesday and Thursday.
“Connor decided to retire earlier this week for personal reasons,” MacDonald told reporters. “We respect their decision. We wish them the best going forward. But we want to take the team forward.”
Williams’ contribution to sport:
Williams made his NFL debut in 2018 with the Dallas Cowboys. He played four seasons with Dallas, where he worked as a left guard. He served as the starting center for the Miami Dolphins during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, playing in 26 games. Prior to the 2024 season, he signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks in August.
Sometimes injuries interrupted his career. He suffered an ACL tear in 2019 and then suffered another ACL injury at the end of 2023. However, he returned fit for the first match of the season this year.
Next option for the team:
The Seattle Seahawks have now handed the center role to second-year player Olu Oluwatimi. It will be Oluwatimi’s first of the season and second of his career. Oluwatimi played one match earlier in 2023 and has appeared in four matches this year.
Additionally, the Seattle Seahawks also have rookie Jaylen Sundel, who is a North Dakota State player. Sundel has appeared in four games this season, playing one snap on the offensive line, while completing 27 snaps on special teams.
Financial aspects and incentives:
Williams’ contract included $2.51 million in incentives. It included a $1 million bonus if the team completed 75% of offensive snaps, and another $1 million bonus if the team qualified for the playoffs. In addition, $30,000 was to be paid for each match played.
Williams’ sudden retirement has come as a shock to the team. However, the team is preparing for the next strategy, especially for the important game against the San Francisco 49ers.