The Seattle Seahawks will be taking on the San Francisco 49ers this week, but they’ll do so without one of their starters.
The player isn’t out due to injury or suspension, but his intentions are clearly to no longer play football.
According to head coach Mike Macdonald, 27-year-old center Connor Williams is retiring from professional football for personal reasons.
Williams was in his first season with Seattle after spending the previous two years with the Miami Dolphins. He began his career with the Dallas Cowboys, who drafted him in 2018.
Williams was selected in the second round that year, with the 50th overall pick.
The center started all nine games this season, and appeared to be on track for his first full season since 2022. He suffered a major knee injury last year with the Dolphins that limited him to only nine games, but his comeback effort paid off as he remained healthy throughout 2024.
“So Connor early this week decided to retire. Personal reasons, and we respect that,” Macdonald said on Friday. “Wish him the best, and we’ve got to move forward.”
Macdonald also added that he doesn’t expect Williams to change his mind about retirement.
“I don’t believe [he will come back]. We will honor his wishes and keep all those reasons and conversations private for obvious reasons,” the head coach said.
Olu Oluwatimi will take his spot in the starting lineup as the team’s primary center.
SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 19: A general view in the first quarter between the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers during the 2014 NFC Championship at CenturyLink Field on January 19, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
The Seahawks are looking to get back on track this week after losing five of their last six games. They’ll be facing the San Francisco 49ers this year, who have turned their season around and are now above .500 for the first time this season.
The 49ers have dealt with injuries all season long, but they now have one of the league’s best players back in running back Christian McCaffrey.
He had over 100 scrimmage yards in his first game back last week, and the 49ers will likely look to him for another important performance on Sunday.
The Seahawks won’t be eliminated from the playoff picture with a loss this week, but they’ll have an uphill battle for both the NFC West divisional race and the playoff race as a whole.
