“I know it’s possible, and I want to make it happen,” Williams said.
On September 3, Williams and the 49ers agreed to a restructured three-year, $82.66 million contract, just days before San Francisco’s Week 1 game against the New York Jets.
The team locked in their left tackle for the Monday Night Football matchup.
Despite the contract negotiations, Williams experienced a moment of disbelief when he joined his team for the season opener.
“I did have a moment where I thought, ‘Wow, it’s really happening,'” Williams shared. “A few weeks ago, I couldn’t have imagined this coming together so quickly—it caught me off guard.”
The 36-year-old had missed all of training camp while waiting for a new deal. It was apparent during Monday’s game when he had to leave in the fourth quarter for an IV.
“There’s no way to get into football shape without playing football,” Williams explained. “Missing camp means you lose that time to assess yourself and prepare. That’s where you discover what kind of player you’ll be that season. It was a big adjustment. Luckily, we had IVs.”
Williams wasn’t the only one who held out during camp. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk was also absent as he worked out a new contract with the 49ers.
Both negotiations went down to the wire, but it was clear that Williams and Aiyuk were committed to staying with San Francisco long-term.
“I’m truly fortunate to play under one of the best coaches I’ve ever worked with,” Williams said. “I turned down money elsewhere to come here and prove myself. I knew being with Kyle and this team would bring out the best in me.”
Williams was ranked the NFL’s top blocking tackle last season, posting a 95.8 percent pass block win rate.
Behind Williams, the 49ers averaged 6.05 yards per carry on runs to the left side, compared to 4.45 yards per carry on all other attempts.
