Shaun Williams Profile

NFL: Contributed as a reserve his first 2 years before starting every game the last 2 seasons at free safety…Could move to strong safety in 2002 with the departure of San Garnes…An outstanding tackler who has delivered several crushing hits as a Giant…Used in nickel and dime defensive packages and on special teams throughout his first 2 seasons…Williams' first claim to Giants fame is that he was born on Oct. 10, 1976, the day Giants Stadium opened.

Shaun punishes a would be blocker

2001: Started all 16 games at strong safety, the second year in a row he started every game…Recorded a career-high 96 tackles (77 solo), which was second on the team to Mike Barrow's team-record 135 tackles…Had 3 interceptions, tying his career high and tying him with Jason Sehorn for second on the team, 1 behind Will Allen…Was third on the team with 11 passes defensed…Also recorded the first regular-season sack of his career…Finished with 5 tackles (3 solo) vs. Green Bay (1/6) before being forced to leave the game with a knee sprain early in the fourth quarter…Had 2 tackles (1 solo) and 1 pass defensed at Philadelphia (12/30). Broke up a Donovan McNabb pass to WR James Thrash in the third quarter…Recorded a team-high and season-high 12 tackles (10 solo) and 1 pass defensed vs. Seattle (12/23). His second-quarter hit on Bobby Engram broke up a pass from Matt Hasselbeck. Got into backfield to drop RB Shaun Alexander for a one-yard loss in the second quarter and twice stuffed Alexander for no gain in the fourth quarter…Had 3 tackles (2 solo) vs. Arizona (12/15)…Registered 3 solo tackles at Dallas (12/9)…Recorded 8 tackles (6 solo) vs. Oakland (11/25)…Contributed 6 tackles (5 solo) at Minnesota (11/19)…Finished with a team-high 8 tackles (6 solo) at Arizona (11/11)…Was second on the team with 9 tackles (5 solo) vs. Dallas (11/4). Stuffed Troy Hambrick for a 1-yard loss in the first quarter… Finished with a team-high 9 solo tackles and a sack at Washington (10/28). Recorded the first regular-season sack of his career in the second quarter when he dropped Tony Banks for a 6-yard loss. Tackled Stephen Davis for a 3-yard loss in the third quarter…Had 6 tackles (4 solo), 1 interception and 2 passes defensed vs. Philadelphia (10/22). Picked off a McNabb pass intended for Todd Pinkston in the first period and returned it 20 yards. Broke up a McNabb pass intended for Pinkson in the third quarter…Recorded 6 solo tackles and 1 pass defensed at St. Louis (10/14). Broke up Kurt Warner's pass for Torry Holt in the third quarter. Stopped Marshall Faulk for a 1-yard loss after a reception in the third quarter…Finished with 4 tackles (3 solo) and 2 passes defensed vs. Washington (10/17). Broke up Banks' attempt to Stephen Alexander in the first quarter and his pass to Rod Gardner in the fourth quarter…Contributed 7 solo tackles and an interception vs. New Orleans (9/30). Intercepted an Aaron Brooks pass intended for Joe Horn in the third period…Had 3 tackles (2 solo), 2 passes defensed and 1 interception at Kansas City (9/23). His first-quarter interception of Trent Green's pass for Jason Dunn in the end zone was the defense's first forced turnover of the season…Had 5 solo tackles at Denver (9/10). Left the game in the third quarter with a thigh bruise but returned. Stopped Terrell Davis for a 3-yard loss in the first quarter.

2000: Started all 19 regular season and postseason games, including 18 at free safety and 1 at strong safety (at Philadelphia, 9/10)…Was named to Sports Illustrated's All-Pro team…Finished tied for second on the team with a career-high 3 interceptions…Was third on the team with 85 tackles (64 solo) and with 13 passes defensed…Also had a fumble recovery and 8 special teams tackles (6 solo)…Record a team-high 7 tackles (5 solo) in Super Bowl XXXV vs. Baltimore (1/28)…Enjoyed outstanding performance in NFC Championship game vs. Minnesota (1/14), finishing with 2 tackles (1 solo), 1 sack and a forced fumble. His 3-yard sack of Daunte Culpepper on the third quarter's first play forced a fumble that was recovered by Cornelius Griffin. The sack was the first of his career and the turnover set up an Amani Toomer 7-yard touchdown reception that gave the Giants a 41-0 lead…Had 3 solo tackles, 1 pass defensed and a forced fumble in NFC Divisional Playoff vs. Philadelphia (1/7). Hit Torrance Small in the first quarter after a 9-yard reception to force a fumble that was recovered by Dave Thomas. Turnover resulted in a Brad Daluiso 37-yard field goal that gave the Giants a 10-0 lead…Posted 5 tackles (3 solo), 1 pass defensed and 1 fumble recovery vs. Jacksonville (12/23). Delivered memorable hit on Jimmy Smith and broke up a pass when the Jacksonville receiver went over the middle in the first quarter. Recovered a fumble by Fred Taylor on the running back's first carry of the game. Also contributed 2 special teams tackles…Had 2 solo tackles on defense and an assisted tackle on special teams at Dallas (12/17). Both of his tackles stopped Emmitt Smith for losses…Finished with a team-high 8 tackles (7 solo) and 1 pass defensed vs. Pittsburgh (12/10). Also had 1 special teams tackle…Recorded 4 solo tackles at Washington (12/3)…Posted 7 tackles (3 solo) and an interception vs. Detroit (11/19). Intercepted his third pass of the season in the fourth quarter when he picked off a Charlie Batch attempt for Herman Moore in the end zone…Had 8 tackles (6 solo), 1 pass defensed and 1 special teams tackle vs. St. Louis (11/12)…Recorded 3 solo tackles, 1 pass defensed and 1 special teams tackle vs. Philadelphia (10/29). Left the game in the fourth quarter after being kicked in the leg but later returned to action…Posted 6 tackles (4 solo), an interception and 2 passes defensed vs. Dallas (10/15). Intercepted Troy Aikman in the end zone early in the second quarter and returned it 12 yards to the 9-yard line. Played nickel cornerback in the fourth when Reggie Stephens left the game with an ankle injury…Had a team-high 8 solo tackles at Atlanta (10/8). Punishing hits on Falcons receivers helped set the tone early for dominating performance by the Giants defense…Had 8 tackles (6 solo) vs. Washington (9/24)…Recorded a team-high 5 solo tackles and 1 pass defensed at Chicago (9/17)… Switched from free safety to start at strong safety in place of injured Sam Garnes at Philadelphia (9/10). Lyle West played free safety. Finished with 2 solo tackles…Made the first start of his NFL career in season opener vs. Arizona (9/3). Had a solid game despite missing all but a week of training camp with a toe injury, finishing with 7 tackles (6 solo), an interception and 2 passes defensed. Picked off Jake Plummer pass intended for Terry Hardy and returned it 40 yards in the third quarter.

1999: Played in 11 games, with the majority of action coming on nickel defense and on special teams…Missed 5 games after pulling hamstring vs. New Orleans (10/24)… Finished season with 16 tackles (13 solo) and tied for third on the team with 6 passes defensed…Had 2 solo tackles and 2 passes defensed in nickel and dime packages at Tampa Bay (9/12)…Used in sub defenses, on special teams and filled in for safeties Percy Ellsworth and Sam Garnes in regular defense vs. Washington (9/19). Finished with 2 tackles (1 solo) and 2 special teams tackle…Had 2 solo tackles as dime linebacker and 2 special teams tackles vs. Dallas (10/18)…Recorded 1 assisted tackle and 1 pass defensed before leaving the game in the third quarter vs. New Orleans (10/24) with a left hamstring pull that forced him to miss the next five games (at Philadelphia 10/31, vs. Indianapolis 11/14, at Washington 11/21, vs. Arizona 11/28, and vs. New York Jets 12/5)…Returned to action at Buffalo (12/12) where he played nickel cornerback and finished with 3 solo tackles and 1 pass defensed.

1998: Played in 13 games during his rookie season as the nickel back and on special teams…Saw limited action at strong safety in the regular defense…Finished with 24 total tackles (19 solo), 2 interceptions, 3 passes defensed and 10 special teams tackles…Suffered a hamstring injury at San Diego (9/27) and missed the next 3 games (at Tampa Bay, 10/4; vs. Atlanta, 10/11; and vs. Arizona, 10-18)…Role in the nickel defense increased vs. Dallas (9/21) when the Giants utilized an extra defensive back with Williams in the nickel defensive package replacing injured nickel linebacker Scott Galyon. Led the team with 7 tackles…Played extensively at Arizona (12/6) when Galyon left in the first quarter with a knee/leg injury. Recorded his first NFL interception when he picked off a Jake Plummer pass at the Cardinals 45-yard line with 21 seconds left in the first half. Interception set up Brad Daluiso's 51-yard field goal as time expired in the first half…Intercepted John Elway's pass intended for Shannon Sharpe at the Giants 37-yard line vs. Denver (12/13). The Giants converted the turnover into a 19-yard field goal for a 13-9 lead midway through the final quarter. Play in the nickel defense helped limit Sharpe to 4 receptions and just 25 yards as the Giants game plan called for Williams to play a large role shadowing Sharpe…Awarded a Special Teams Game Ball by the coaching staff for his play vs. Kansas City (12/20) when he finished with 2 solo special teams tackles as the gunner on the punt team.

#36 brings the pain

College: All-America first-team pick by The Poor Man's Guide to the NFL Draft and College and Pro Football Newsweekly, adding second-team honors from Associated Press and The Sporting News as a senior in 1997…Selected to the All-Pac 10 Conference first-team…Started 9 games at free safety and finished second on the team with 68 tackles (49 solo). Deflected 9 passes and 2 interceptions…As a junior in 1996, was All-Pac 10 Conference honorable mention, starting 9 games at free safety. Was third on the team with 59 tackles (36 solo) and had 3 sacks for minus-21 yards that year…As a sophomore was All-Pac 10 Conference honorable mention. Started every game, except vs. Arizona, at free safety. Was second on the team with 69 tackles (51 solo)…Reserve free safety for most of his freshman season in 1994. Recorded 21 tackles (14 solo). Came off the bench to register 5 tackles (3 solo), including a pair of hits on the final series that helped preserve a 31-30 victory over Stanford. That performance earned him his first career start, responding with 9 tackles (6 solo) and a pass deflection in a 59-23 romp over Arizona State.

Cowboys are no match for Giants

Personal: Single…All-CIF Division I and Del Rey League Most Valuable Player while performing in his last 2 seasons as a tailback and safety at Crespi (Encino, Cal.) High…Added All-American honors from Blue Chip, Prep Football Report and Super Prep magazines…Also named to the Super Prep All-Far West team and Long Beach Press-Telegram's "Best of the West" squad…Western 100 and all-Valley choice…Recorded 106 tackles with 3 interceptions and rushed for 1,835 yards with 23 touchdowns as a senior…Had a season-high 225 yards on the ground vs. St. John Bosco High that campaign…Also lettered in track as a junior…Pre-Psychology major at UCLA…. Parents are Sheliah and Kenneth Williams…Has a brother (Dereck) and sister (Shardai)…Has son, Tyson, born Aug. 20, 1998…Born Shaun LeJon Williams on Oct. 10, 1976 in Los Angeles, California…Born on the same day as the opening of Giants Stadium.

Shaun unloads on Emmitt