View source for Cadillac Williams

{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1982)}}
{{For|the jazz trumpeter also known as Cadillac Williams|Nelson Williams (trumpeter)}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name           = Cadillac Williams
| image          = CarnellWilliams-AU.jpg
| image_size     =
| alt            = 
| caption        = Williams with the Auburn Tigers in 2004
| current_team   = 
| number         = 24,33
| position       = [[Running back]]
| birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|1982|4|21|mf=y}}
| birth_place    = [[Gadsden, Alabama]], U.S.
| death_date     = 
| death_place    = 
| height_ft      = 5
| height_in      = 11
| weight_lbs     = 218
| high_school    = [[Etowah High School (Alabama)|Etowah]] ([[Attalla, Alabama]])
| college        = [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn]] (2001–2004)
| draftyear      = 2005
| draftround     = 1
| draftpick      = 5
| pastteams      =
* [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] ({{NFL Year|2005}}–{{NFL Year|2010}})
* [[St. Louis Rams]] ({{NFL Year|2011}})
| pastcoaching   =
* [[Henderson State Reddies football|Henderson State]] (2015)<br>Running backs coach
* [[West Georgia Wolves football|West Georgia]] (2016)<br>Graduate assistant 
* [[IMG Academy|IMG Academy (FL)]] (2017)<br>Running backs coach 
* [[Birmingham Iron]] (2018)<br>Running backs coach 
* [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn]] (2019–2022)<br>Running backs coach 
* Auburn (2022)<br>Interim head coach
* Auburn (2023)<br>Associate head coach & running backs coach
* [[Las Vegas Raiders]] ({{nfly|2024}})<br>Running backs coach
| highlights     =
* [[National Football League Rookie of the Year Award|NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year]] (2005)
* [[PFWA All-Rookie Team]] ([[PFWA All-Rookie Team#2005|2005]])
* First-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[2004 College Football All-America Team|2004]])
* [[Southeastern Conference football individual awards#Most Valuable Player|SEC Special Teams Player of the Year]] (2004)
* 2× First-team [[List of All-SEC football teams|All-SEC]] ([[2003 All-SEC football team|2003]], [[2004 All-SEC football team|2004]])
| statlabel1     = [[Carry (American football)|Rushing attempts]]
| statvalue1     = 1,055
| statlabel2     = [[Rushing yards]]
| statvalue2     = 4,038
| statlabel3     = [[Touchdown |Rushing touchdowns]]
| statvalue3     = 21
| statlabel4     = [[Reception (American football)|Receptions]]
| statvalue4     = 148
| statlabel5     = [[Receiving yards]]
| statvalue5     = 1,002
| statlabel6     = [[Touchdown|Receiving touchdowns]]
| statvalue6     = 4
| regular_record = {{Winning percentage|2|2|record=y}} (NCAA)
| playoff_record = <!-- {{Winning percentage|0|0|record=y}} -->
| overall_record = <!-- {{Winning percentage|0|0|record=y}} -->
| pfr            = WillCa02
| pfrcoach       =  
}}

'''Carnell Lamar''' "'''Cadillac'''" '''Williams''' (born April 21, 1982) is an American professional [[American football|football]] coach and former [[running back]] who most recently served as the [[running backs coach]] for the [[Las Vegas Raiders]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He previously served as the running backs coach at [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn University]] from 2019 to 2023, he also served as their [[Head coach|interim head coach]] in 2022, the first African American to hold the position in Auburn history.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cole |first=Adam |date=October 31, 2022 |title=Carnell Williams named Auburn's interim head coach |url=https://oanow.com/sports/college/auburn/carnell-williams-named-auburns-interim-head-coach/article_a32aa7ce-595a-11ed-8341-43122b441465.html |access-date=November 1, 2022 |website=OANow.com |language=en}}</ref>

Williams played [[college football]] for the [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn Tigers]], where he set the [[Auburn Tigers football statistical leaders|school's record]] for career rushing [[touchdown]]s and helped the team go undefeated in [[2004 Auburn Tigers football team|2004]], when he was named a first-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]]. During the [[2005 NFL draft]], Williams was selected by the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] in the first round and also played for the [[St. Louis Rams]]. In 2005, Williams won the [[National Football League Rookie of the Year Award|NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year]] award.

==College career==
Williams attended [[Auburn University]] after graduating from [[Etowah High School (Alabama)|Etowah High School]] in [[Attalla, Alabama]]. He got the nickname "Cadillac" from a TV sportscaster<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wood |first=Skip |date=April 24, 2005 |title=Unique bond of Auburn RBs |work=USA Today |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/football/2005draft/2005-04-21-auburn-rbs_x.htm}}</ref> in Alabama for the style and the way he ran – he was a notch above everyone on the field, and the name stuck.<ref>Mike Tirico, ESPN Monday Night Football, December 8, 2008</ref>  He began the 2001 season as a true freshman and the #3 running back on the depth chart. In the eighth game of the season he had a break-out game against the [[University of Arkansas]] and showed his outstanding talent and versatility as a running back. After amassing 177 yards in a 42–17 loss to Arkansas,<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 27, 2001 |title=Auburn vs. Arkansas |work=USA Today |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/scores101/101300/101300418.htm}}</ref> Williams was promoted to starting running back. In the next game, the annual [[Deep South's Oldest Rivalry]] contest against the University of Georgia, he led Auburn to a 24–17 victory as he amassed 167 yards on a then Auburn record 41 carries, caught four passes for 71 yards and scored two touchdowns, one of which was the game winner.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 10, 2001 |title=Auburn vs Georgia |url=http://www.auburntigers.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2001-2002/au09.html |access-date=July 11, 2014 |publisher=AuburnTigers.com}}</ref> (That record stood until Tre Mason had 46 carries and 304 yards against Missouri in the 2013 SEC Championship Game.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 7, 2013 |title=Missouri vs Auburn |url=http://www.auburntigers.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2013-2014/au13.html |access-date=July 11, 2014 |publisher=AuburnTigers.com}}</ref>) Williams was injured early in the bitter in-state rivalry game against the [[University of Alabama]] (also known as the [[Iron Bowl]]) with a broken [[collar bone]] and had to sit out the rest of the season. In his freshman season, Williams played in nine games and finished with 614 yards on 120 carries (5.1 avg.) and six touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Auburn Tigers Overall Team Statistics |url=http://www.auburntigers.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2001-2002/teamcume.html |access-date=July 11, 2014 |publisher=AuburnTigers.com}}</ref>

The 2002 season started out as a promising season for Williams. Unfortunately, it also ended prematurely for him when he broke his lower left [[fibula]] against [[University of Florida|Florida]] and missed the last six games of the season. He amassed 745 yards on 141 attempts (5.3 avg.) and 10 touchdowns in only seven games prior to the injury.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Auburn Tigers Overall Team Statistics |url=http://www.auburntigers.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2002-2003/teamcume.html |access-date=July 11, 2014 |publisher=AuburnTigers.com}}</ref>

In 2003, Williams was told that he would share the load at the running back position with [[Ronnie Brown]]. Brown had completed a stellar season the previous year after picking up the starting role when Williams went down with a broken ankle. However, Brown pulled a hamstring early on in the year and sat out most of the rest of the season, leaving Williams as the sole starting running back. Williams went on to have a sensational season setting an [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn]] single-season record with 17 touchdowns, and gaining a career-high 1,307 yards on 241 attempts (5.4 avg.). The 2003 season was an important season for Williams because it showed that he could stay healthy and excel on the field on his own.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Auburn Overall Team Statistics |url=http://www.auburntigers.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2003-2004/teamcume.html |access-date=July 11, 2014 |publisher=AuburnTigers.com}}</ref> His highlight of the season was breaking an 80-yard touchdown run on the first play of scrimmage against Alabama.<ref>{{YouTube|o1f4_J8R6n8}}</ref>

In 2004, Williams decided to return for his senior year at Auburn. This turned out to be a wise decision as he, along with quarterback [[Jason Campbell]], Brown and others, helped lead the Tigers to an [[SEC Championship]] and [[Sugar Bowl]] winning season, finishing with a perfect 13–0 record and a controversial #2 ranking behind the [[University of Southern California]]. Williams went on to earn [[2004 College Football All-America Team|All-American]] honors and was named to the [[List of All-SEC football teams|All-SEC]] first-team as both a running back and return specialist. He led the team in rushing for the third time with 1,165 yards on 239 carries (4.9 avg.) and scored 12 touchdowns. He finished the season with 1,718 all-purpose yards, the third highest single-season output in [[Auburn University|Auburn]] school history. Williams also threw one touchdown pass against [[University of Georgia|Georgia]]. Some argue that Williams' senior year performance was not as good statistically (4.9-yard rushing average for example, the lowest in his college career) as his others because of poor blocking, while others argue that it was because defenses focused on him specifically.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Official Athletics Site of the Auburn Tigers – Football |url=http://www.auburntigers.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2004-2005/teamcume.html |access-date=July 11, 2014 |publisher=AuburnTigers.com}}</ref>

Williams finished his collegiate career with 3,831 yards on 741 attempts (5.2 yards per attempt) and 45 touchdowns, breaking the all-time [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn]] career records of most rushing attempts by [[Joe Cribbs]] (657), and most touchdowns by [[Bo Jackson]] (43), while finishing second in total rushing yards in a career behind Bo Jackson. His career total of 5,033 all-purpose yards also ranks second in school history behind [[James Brooks (running back)|James Brooks]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 10, 2005 |title=Career History : C. Williams |url=http://www.auburntigers.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2004-2005/histcarr.html#103 |access-date=July 11, 2014 |publisher=AuburnTigers.com}}</ref>

Williams also has the distinction of earning nine [[Southeastern Conference|SEC]] Player of the Week honors in his career, the most in conference history.

At Auburn, Williams majored in [[sociology]]. He returned to Auburn to finish the final coursework necessary for a sociology degree in December 2014.

[[Image:CarnellWilliams-AU-run.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Williams evades a tackler at Auburn.]]

===College statistics===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Season
! rowspan="2"| Team
! rowspan="2"| GP
! colspan="6"| Rushing
|-
! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Y/G
|-
! [[2001 NCAA Division I-A football season|2001]] !! [[2001 Auburn Tigers football team|Auburn]]
| 9 || 120 || 614 || 5.1 || 55 || 6 || 68.2
|-
! [[2002 NCAA Division I-A football season|2002]] !! [[2002 Auburn Tigers football team|Auburn]]
| 7 || 141 || 745 || 5.3 || 65 || 10 || 106.4
|-
! [[2003 NCAA Division I-A football season|2003]] !! [[2003 Auburn Tigers football team|Auburn]]
| 13 || 241 || 1,307 || 5.4 || 80 || 17 || 100.5
|-
! [[2004 NCAA Division I-A football season|2004]] !! [[2004 Auburn Tigers football team|Auburn]]
| 13 || 239 || 1,165 || 4.9 || 36 || 12 || 89.6
|-
! colspan="2"| Career !! 42 !! 741 !! 3,831 !! 5.2 !! 80 !! 45 !! 91.5
|}

==Professional career==
{{NFL predraft
|    height ft = 5
|    height in = 10 7/8
|       weight = 217
|         dash = 4.50
|    ten split = 1.59
| twenty split = 2.63
|      shuttle = 4.07
|   cone drill = 6.94
|     vertical = 37.0
|     broad ft = 10
|     broad in = 3
|        bench = 19
|    wonderlic = 
|     arm span = 30 5/8
|    hand span = 8 1/4
|         note = All values from [[NFL Combine]]/[[Pro Day]]<ref>{{Citation |title=Carnell Williams Draft Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=55262&DraftYear=2005 |work=DraftScout.com |access-date=February 26, 2010}}</ref><ref name="NFL scouting">{{Cite web |title=Carnell "Cadillac" Williams Prospect Profile |url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/2005/williams_carnell |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050425231857/http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/2005/williams_carnell |archive-date=April 25, 2005 |publisher=NFL}}</ref>
}}

===Tampa Bay Buccaneers===

Williams entered the [[2005 NFL draft]] and was selected with the fifth pick of the first round by the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2005 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2005/draft.htm |access-date=May 7, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> He signed a five-year contract worth $31 million.

Jeff Reynolds of Pro Football Weekly predicted Williams was the rookie most likely to have the greatest impact in the [[2005 NFL season]], writing that "at the [[Senior Bowl]], [[Jon Gruden]] was salivating over this kid. He pulled him out real early. Don't think that was a coincidence. He's the offense. Gruden has set it up, Cadillac or bust".

The first half of the season for Williams was an up and down affair.  Williams rushed for 434 yards in his first three weeks, setting records as the first rookie running back to ever have three consecutive 100 yard games, and rushing for the most yards in the first three weeks of a career, a record previously held by [[Alan Ameche]] of the 1955 [[History of the Indianapolis Colts|Baltimore Colts]]. Williams was also named rookie of the week for the first three weeks of the season and rookie of the month for September. His shoes and gloves from week three were subsequently retired to the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame|Football Hall of Fame]] in [[Canton, Ohio]].<ref>{{Cite web |title='Cadillac' Williams milestone preserved in Canton {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site |url=http://www.profootballhof.com/news/cadillac-williams-milestone-preserved-in-canton/ |access-date=March 22, 2018 |website=www.profootballhof.com |language=en}}</ref> In week four however, Williams dealt with injuries to his ankle and arch in his right foot, causing him to miss two weeks.  In the next four games he played, including the game in which he was injured, Williams only rushed for a combined 82 yards on limited carries. However, in his next four games, he averaged over 100 yards per game (408). In his rookie season, Williams tallied six 100-yard games in 14 starts, and led all rookies in total rushing yards (1,178), rookie of the week honors (3), and finished second, behind [[Brandon Jacobs]] for rushing touchdowns (6).

On January 4, 2006, Williams was awarded the [[NFL Rookie of the Year Award|Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award.]] He drew 47 votes of a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the [[NFL]]. He beat former running mate [[Ronnie Brown]] of [[Miami Dolphins|Miami]], who received one vote. Tight end [[Heath Miller]] of [[Pittsburgh Steelers|Pittsburgh]] and offensive lineman [[Logan Mankins]] of [[New England Patriots|New England]] also received one vote. On February 2, 2006, Williams was announced as the NFL Rookie of the Year Award winner based on the votes of over 1,000,000 visitors to NFL.com.

Williams was unable to match the success of his rookie campaign in the [[2006 NFL season]], as he failed to reach the 1,000 yard mark.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cadillac Williams 2007 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WillCa02/gamelog/2007/ |access-date=2024-12-25 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> His reduced production was attributed to poor offensive line play and an injury that nagged him all year.

====Injuries====
In October 2007, Williams suffered a torn [[patellar tendon]] to his right knee against Carolina, which required surgery and ended his season. Doctors were doubtful he would come back to full strength after this devastating injury. Williams, however, said that he had "no doubt" that he would play in 2008.

In mid-season of 2008, Williams began practicing with the team and was listed as questionable on the official injury report. In November, he was taken off the [[Physically Unable to Perform]] list and added to the active roster. He played in his first game in 14 months against Detroit. On November 30 against the Saints, he scored his first touchdown since his return. One month later, however, during the final game of the season on December 28, Williams suffered another torn patellar tendon, this time in his left knee.

The second tear was not as severe as the first, but Williams again endured surgery and an intense period of rehab to get back on the field. He returned to game action during the 2009 preseason and was the Bucs' starting running back to open the regular season, becoming the first NFL player to return from patellar tendon tears in both knees.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 17, 2009 |title=Buccaneers' Williams Ready to Roll After Second Knee Injury in Two Years |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/17/sports/football/17cadillac.html |access-date=April 7, 2017 |website=The New York Times}}</ref> On December 27, Williams had his first 100-yard rushing game in two seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and finished with 823 yards, the second highest total of his NFL career.. Williams was narrowly edged for the AP 2009 [[National Football League Comeback Player of the Year Award|Comeback Player of the Year Award]] by [[Tom Brady]], finishing second with 15 votes. He rushed for 821 yards on 210 carries with a 3.9 average and four touchdowns. He also caught 29 passes for 219 yards and 3 touchdowns.

After Williams' turnaround [[2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season]], in which he played in all 16 games for the first time in his career, the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] had high hopes for their former [[National Football League Rookie of the Year Award]] winner.  However, due to the emergence of undrafted rookie sensation [[LeGarrette Blount]], Williams found himself cemented as primarily the third down running back for the latter half of the [[2010 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season]].  Williams was used as a passing threat on third down and finished the season with 46 receptions for 355 yards and one touchdown (a come-from-behind, game-winning catch from [[Josh Freeman]] with ten seconds left in the fourth quarter on October 24, 2010, against the [[St. Louis Rams]]).  He finished the [[2010 NFL season]] with 125 rushing attempts for 437 yards and two touchdowns (one against the [[San Francisco 49ers]] and one against the [[Carolina Panthers]]), helping his team to a 10–6 record.  The Buccaneers missed the [[2010-11 NFL playoffs]] and Williams became an [[unrestricted free agent]] in 2011.

===St. Louis Rams===
On August 3, 2011, Williams signed with the [[St. Louis Rams]] to be the backup for [[Steven Jackson]].<ref name="r461">{{cite web | last=Schroeder | first=Scott | title=NFL Free Agency: Cadillac Williams To Sign With St. Louis Rams, According To Report | website=SBNation.com | date=2011-08-03 | url=https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2011/8/3/2341697/cadillac-williams-st-louis-rams-nfl-free-agency | access-date=2024-12-25}}</ref> In the 2011 regular season opener, Williams had 91 yards on 19 carries against the Philadelphia Eagles. Williams rushed effectively throughout the season for St. Louis, mainly in a backup capacity. He finished the year with 361 rushing yards and 4.1 yards per carry. He also scored one rushing touchdown, in the final game of the season against the San Francisco 49ers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Jim |date=August 3, 2011 |title=Cadillac rolls into St. Louis : Sports |url=http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/rams-report/article_5de9eeca-be13-11e0-a518-0019bb30f31a.html |access-date=July 11, 2014 |website=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]}}</ref>

===NFL career statistics===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! rowspan="2"| GP
! colspan="6"| Rushing
! colspan="6"| Receiving
|-
! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Y/G !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Y/G
|-
! [[2005 NFL season|2005]] || [[2005 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season|TB]]
| 14 || 290 || 1,178 || 4.1 || 71 || 6 || 84.1 || 20 || 81 || 4.1 || 15 || 0 || 6.2
|-
! [[2006 NFL season|2006]] || [[2006 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season|TB]]
| 14 || 225 || 798 || 3.5 || 38 || 1 || 57.0 || 30 || 196 || 6.5 || 21 || 0 || 14.0
|-
! [[2007 NFL season|2007]] || [[2007 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season|TB]]
| 4 || 54 || 208 || 3.9 || 38 || 3 || 52.0 || 3 || 17 || 5.6 || 6 || 0 || 4.3
|-
! [[2008 NFL season|2008]] || [[2008 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season|TB]]
| 6 || 63 || 233 || 3.7 || 28 || 4 || 38.8 || 7 || 43 || 6.1 || 25 || 0 || 7.2
|-
! [[2009 NFL season|2009]] || [[2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season|TB]]
| 16 || 211 || 832 || 3.9 || 35 || 4 || 51.3 || 28 || 217 || 7.8 || 22 || 3 || 13.5
|-
! [[2010 NFL season|2010]] || [[2010 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season|TB]]
| 16 || 125 || 437 || 3.5 || 45 || 2 || 27.3 || 46 || 355 || 7.7 || 20 || 1 || 22.2
|-
! [[2011 NFL season|2011]] || [[2011 St. Louis Rams season|STL]]
| 11 || 87 || 361 || 4.1 || 23 || 1 || 30.1 || 14 || 93 || 6.6 || 16 || 0 || 7.8
|-
! colspan="2"| Total || 81 || 1,055 || 4,047 || 3.8 || 71 || 21 || 50.0 || 148 || 1,002 || 6.8 || 25 || 4 || 12.4
|}

==Coaching career==
===West Georgia===
Williams served as an offensive graduate assistant at the [[University of West Georgia]] in [[Carrollton, Georgia]], for the 2016 season.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 22, 2016 |title=Former Auburn RB Carnell Williams hired as GA at West Georgia |work=USA Today |url=http://sports.usatoday.com/2016/04/22/former-auburn-rb-carnell-williams-hired-as-ga-at-west-georgia/ |access-date=August 6, 2017 |archive-date=August 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806222032/http://sports.usatoday.com/2016/04/22/former-auburn-rb-carnell-williams-hired-as-ga-at-west-georgia/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===IMG Academy===
Williams later served as the running backs coach for the newly created IMG White football team at [[IMG Academy]] in [[Bradenton, Florida]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 8, 2017 |title=IMG Academy to have two varsity football teams this fall |work=Bradenton Herald |url=http://www.bradenton.com/sports/article155222354.html |access-date=August 6, 2017}}</ref>

===Birmingham Iron===
In 2018, Williams became the running backs coach for the [[Birmingham Iron]] of the [[Alliance of American Football]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Inabinett |first=Mark |date=October 9, 2018 |title=Cadillac Williams joins Birmingham Iron coaching staff |work=[[The Birmingham News]] |url=https://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2018/10/cadillas_williams_joins_birmin.html |access-date=October 12, 2018}}</ref>

===Auburn===
On January 23, 2019, Williams was hired as the running backs coach at the [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn University]] under head coach [[Gus Malzahn]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Marcello |first=Brandon |date=January 23, 2019 |title=Cadillac Williams hired as running backs coach |work=[[Auburn Undercover]] |url=https://247sports.com/college/auburn/article/cadillac-williams-hired-as-auburn-running-backs-coach-128209351/ |access-date=January 23, 2019}}</ref> Williams acknowledges and expresses gratitude for Malzahn's early mentoring in his career.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Marcello |first=Brandon |date=January 23, 2019 |title=Cadillac Williams returning to Auburn as Gus Malzahn's running backs coach|work=Montgomeryadvertiser |url=https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/sports/college/auburn/2019/01/23/carnell-cadillac-williams-returning-auburn-football-running-backs-coach-gus-malzahn-tim-horton-img/2656732002 |access-date=July 20, 2023}}</ref>
Auburn fired Malzahn after the 2020 season; new head coach [[Bryan Harsin]] retained Williams as running backs coach.<ref>{{cite news |last=Vitale | first=Josh |title=Auburn assistant coach contract details |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112400498/auburn-assistant-coach-contract-details/ |newspaper=[[Montgomery Advertiser]] |date=March 17, 2021 |page=B2 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=November 1, 2022}}</ref> On October 31, 2022, Auburn fired Harsin and named Williams the interim head coach.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wilborn |first=Nubyjas |date=October 31, 2022 |title=Sources: Auburn tabs Carnell 'Cadillac' Williams as interim head football coach |url=https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2022/10/sources-auburn-tabs-carnell-cadillac-williams-as-interim-head-football-coach.html |access-date=October 31, 2022 |website=al |language=en}}</ref>  On November 12, 2022, Williams won his first game as a head coach, a 13–10 victory over [[2022 Texas A&M Aggies football team|Texas A&M]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Heim |first=Mark |date=November 13, 2022 |title=Carnell Williams gets emotional after first win: Auburn 'ain't dead. We comin' |url=https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2022/11/carnell-williams-gets-emotional-after-first-win-auburn-aint-dead-we-comin.html |access-date=November 15, 2022 |website=al |language=en}}</ref> Williams, who finished the 2022 regular season at 2–2 as interim head coach, was retained as an assistant by [[Hugh Freeze]] when Freeze was named the permanent head coach on November 28.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/35132793/freeze-agrees-next-coach-auburn-sources-say |title=Auburn hires 'the best fit,' chooses Hugh Freeze as next coach |first=Chris |last=Low |website=ESPN.com |date=November 28, 2022 |access-date=November 30, 2022}}</ref> Williams resigned from Auburn following the 2023 season.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rittenberg |first=Adam |date=January 12, 2024 |title=Auburn running backs coach Williams resigning |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/39290647/auburn-carnell-williams-resigning-running-backs-coach |access-date=January 13, 2024 |work=[[ESPN.com]] |language=en}}</ref>

===Las Vegas Raiders===
On February 23, 2024, Williams was hired by the [[Las Vegas Raiders]] as their running backs coach under head coach [[Antonio Pierce]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Raiders announce 2024 coaching staff|url=https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-announce-2024-coaching-staff-additions-antonio-pierce-nfl-offseason|publisher=[[Las Vegas Raiders]]|date=February 23, 2024|access-date=February 23, 2024}}</ref> On February 4, 2025, Williams was dismissed by the Raiders.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ex-Auburn RB, assistant coach Cadillac Williams among Las Vegas Raiders coaches dismissed amid staff changes|url=https://247sports.com/article/ex-auburn-rb-assistant-coach-cadillac-williams-among-las-vegas-raiders-coaches-dismissed-amid-staff-changes-245213180/amp/|access-date=February 4, 2025|website=247sports.com|language=en}}</ref>

==Head coaching record==
===College===
{{CFB Yearly Record Start|type=coach|conf=yes|bowl=yes|poll=no}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn Tigers]]
 | conf      = [[Southeastern Conference]]
 | startyear = 2022
 | endyear   = single
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2022]]
 | name         = [[2022 Auburn Tigers football team|Auburn]]
 | overall      = 2–2{{efn|group=record|Williams replaced [[Bryan Harsin]] after eight games.}}
 | conference   = 1–2
 | confstanding = T–6th <small> (Western)</small>
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Auburn
 | overall    = 2–2
 | confrecord = 1–2
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
 | overall  = 2–2
 | bowls    = no
 | poll     = no
 | legend   = no
}}
{{notelist|group=record}}

==Personal life==
Williams is a [[Christianity|Christian]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mercer |first1=Kevin |title=New Auburn football coach Hugh Freeze, assistant Cadillac Williams stay rooted in Christ |url=https://sportsspectrum.com/sport/football/2022/11/30/auburn-coach-hugh-freeze-cadillac-williams-rooted-christ/ |website=Sports Spectrum |date=November 30, 2022 |access-date=December 8, 2022}}</ref> He is married and has two sons.<ref>{{cite web |title=CARNELL WILLIAMS |url=https://auburntigers.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/carnell-williams/3636 |access-date=December 8, 2022}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons}}
* [https://www.raiders.com/team/coaches-roster/carnell-williams Las Vegas Raiders bio]
* [https://auburntigers.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/carnell-williams/3442 Auburn Tigers bio]
* {{Footballstats |nfl=cadillac-willliams |espn=8420 |cbs=423701 |yahoo=7181 |si= |pfr=W/WillCa02 |rotoworld= }}

{{Navboxes
|list =
{{Auburn Tigers football coach navbox}}
{{Southeastern Conference Football Player of the Year navbox}}
{{2005 NFL Draft}}
{{Buccaneers2005DraftPicks}}
{{BuccaneersFirstPick}}
{{AP Offensive Rookies of the Year}}
{{Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Carnell}}
[[Category:1982 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:African-American coaches of American football]]
[[Category:American football running backs]]
[[Category:Auburn Tigers football coaches]]
[[Category:Auburn Tigers football players]]
[[Category:Coaches of American football from Alabama]]
[[Category:High school football coaches in Florida]]
[[Category:Las Vegas Raiders coaches]]
[[Category:NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year winners]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Gadsden, Alabama]]
[[Category:St. Louis Rams players]]
[[Category:Tampa Bay Buccaneers players]]
[[Category:West Georgia Wolves football coaches]]
[[Category:21st-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:Henderson State Reddies football coaches]]
[[Category:Birmingham Iron coaches]]