Mykel Williams
Mykel DeAnthony Williams is an American professional football defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs, winning a 2023 [College Football Playoff National Championship|national championship] in 2022. Williams was selected by the 49ers in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft.
Early life
Williams was born on June 29, 2004, in Warm Springs, Georgia, later attending Hardaway High School in nearby Columbus. After his senior season, he was named the Maxwell Football National High School Defensive Player of the Year. A five star prospect, Williams was ranked by 247Sports as the fourth-best recruit in the 2022 [college football recruiting class|2022 recruiting class].College career
Williams initially committed to USC, but flipped to Georgia in October 2021. He was the highest-rated recruit signed by defending national champion Georgia in the 2022 recruiting cycle. In July 2022, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said of Williams: "The number one thing that stands out about Mykel is his work ethic.... I'm excited for him... He's a great young man."As a true freshman in 2022, CBS Sports rated him as a "freshman to watch", and ESPN rated him as a preseason true freshman All-American. He played in Georgia's 2022 season opener against No.11 2022 [Oregon Ducks football team|Oregon] and registered two quarterback hurries. At the end of the season, he was named to Pro Football Focus's PFF True Freshman All-America team.
Williams' number at Georgia was #13.
Professional career
On January6, 2025, Williams declared for the 2025 NFL draft.Williams was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round with the 11th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft. On May 14, Williams signed with the 49ers on a four-year deal worth $24.943 million. He started all nine game he appeared in, recording one fumble recovery, one sack, and 20 combined tackles. In Week 9 against the New York Giants season|New York Giants], Williams suffered a season-ending anterior [cruciate ligament injury|torn ACL] in his right knee. On November 8, 2025, Williams was placed on injured reserve.