Former North Stanly Comet signs with CFL’s B.C. Lions

Published 2:56 pm Thursday, March 9, 2023

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His professional football career has taken him to several different places, including the last game of the 2022 NFL season, where he scored a touchdown in a win versus the Miami Dolphins.

Two years later, Antonio Williams will take his talents north of the border.

Williams, who played last season for the New York Giants, has signed to play in the Canadian Football League with the BC Lions.

The Lions, who play in Vancouver, British Columbia, were founded in 1954 and are the oldest professional sports team in the province. BC has won six Grey Cups in that time, the last coming in 2011.

Williams, who diversified his professional interest to include sponsoring a competitive E-sports team and auto racing ventures, said he had a lot of thinking to do after being released.

“‘Do I want to continue to play ball? Do I want to focus on my e-sports team or my other businesses?’ I thought I lot in that time away from ball,” Williams said.

He said during that month and a half, he started missing football.

“I reached out to my agent to see what we could find,” Williams said.

Williams said he and his agent were talking to several NFL teams when the opportunity with the CFL’s BC Lions came up.

“They are a really successful team and they were looking for a new running back…they got in touch with my agent when they saw I was on the market,” Williams said. “I was like, ‘Let’s give it shot.’ ”

Williams will have the chance, he said, to play regularly on offense after playing mainly special teams last season. He said he had no issues playing special teams, but still wants to carry the football.

“Hopefully, I can go out there and do what I need to do to get on the field on offense,” Williams said.

Playing football at this point in his career, he said, was just for fun, with his other businesses doing well.

Ancient World Gaming, his E-sports team, is negotiating with Walmart for sponsorship, as well as getting a charter for an Apex Legends world championship team.

About Charles Curcio

Charles Curcio has served as the sports editor of the Stanly News & Press for more than 16 years and has written numerous news and feature storeis as well. He was awarded the NCHSAA Tim Stevens Media Representative of the Year and named CNHI Sports Editor of the Year in 2014. He has also won an award from Boone Newspapers, and has won four North Carolina Press Association awards.

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