A nation-leading interceptor at Cal who forced his way into the Chiefs' starting lineup as a rookie, Williams looks like one of the steals of the 2025 draft.
Nohl Williams arrived in Kansas City with a reputation for taking the ball away, having led the country in interceptions during his final college season at California. Injuries around him opened the door to significant playing time as a rookie, and he answered by closing out the year as a starter.
Path to the league
Williams began his college career at UNLV from 2020 to 2022, recording 98 tackles and five interceptions over three seasons, before transferring to California for 2023 and 2024. In his final season with the Golden Bears, he led all of college football with seven interceptions, including a 40-yard pick-six, earning consensus All-American and first-team All-ACC honors. The Chiefs selected him in the third round with the 85th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, a pick acquired via trade with the New England Patriots.
Career highlights
Williams finished his college career with 14 interceptions, the second-most in the 2025 draft class, built on ball skills that stood out even before his breakout senior season. Early in his rookie year with Kansas City, he allowed just a 39.6 passer rating on targets his way while playing a situational nickel role, a sign the translation to the NFL would come quickly.
2025 season recap
Williams played in all 17 games as a rookie and started the final four after injuries to Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson pushed him into a bigger role. He finished with 48 tackles, seven pass breakups, four tackles for loss and a sack, though he did not record an interception in his first professional season.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Nohl Williams
- Pro Football Reference: Nohl Williams
Statistics
2025 season and career2025 Season · Defense
17 games played▶Defense · career
| Year | Team | GP | TOT | SOLO | SACK | INT | FF | FR | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | chiefs | 17 | 48 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Cornerback
- Group
- defense
- College
- California
- Hometown
- Oxnard, CA, USA
- Age
- 23
- Status
- active
