SANTA CLARA, Calif. – When the bell rang in the late hours of March 16, Trent Williams’ offensive approach increasingly convinced him that his first foray into free agency took him from the San Francisco 49ers to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Williams has long insisted he wants to stay with coach Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco, but the momentum in the direction of a new deal has stalled and the Chiefs have put what he called a “good push” on Tuesday.
But Williams, who has known Shanahan since their time in Washington in 2010, told Shanahan before the free agency that he would not leave without giving Shanahan a final chance.
“As soon as I got the chance that KC looked like they were ready to make it official, I called Kyle,” Williams said Tuesday. “I could not even get it out and just tell him, but I was just like, ‘Hey man, we need to make this soon if you get my career.’
Williams’ message to Shanahan was actually texted, and the outcome was simple: if something did not happen soon, he was on his way to Kansas City.
Shanahan immediately called Williams, who was walking into James Harden’s new restaurant, Thirteen, in Houston when Shanahan reached out. Williams walked outside to talk to Shanahan and let him know he was planning to make his decision by the time his meal was over.
Before Williams received his keys from the maid just over an hour later, Williams’ agent Vincent Taylor called with the news that Williams was staying in San Francisco on a record-setting $ 138 million of six years and $ 55.1 million guarantee.
It was the culmination of a two-year journey in which Williams suspended the 2019 season due to a rare form of cancer and a dispute with Washington over the handling of his injuries and his contract.
In the months leading up to the free agency, Williams insisted he wanted to test his value – something made possible by a contract stipulation that he could not become a franchise label – and he wanted to stay in San Francisco.
Despite all that, Williams was not sure he could make both things happen, as he received recruiting messages from Chiefs eighth man Patrick Mahomes and Indianapolis Colts guard Quenton Nelson.
“I thought I would get a lot of money and be somewhere I hated, or that I would be somewhere I wanted to play at a discount,” Williams said. “I certainly did not think it would be both.”
Williams’ comfort with the 49ers, and especially Shanahan, is evident from the time the team exchanged for him on the third day of the NFL draft. The 49ers felt the same way about him.
“After a year away from the football field, Trent came in and performed for us at an incredibly high level, which has shown that he is still an elite branch in this league,” said John Lynch, general manager, in a statement said he was signed. “His familiarity with our coaching staff enabled a seamless transition to our organization and culture, where he quickly earned the trust of his teammates and established himself as a key leader in our locker room. Trent’s passion for the game could already from Day 1. and it fits exactly into our vision of the 49er Road and a championship culture. His contributions to our team extend far beyond the field and we are delighted to keep Trent in the Bay for a long time to come. “
Williams said the Shanahan offense is a way to showcase his unique combination of size, strength and athleticism, and that there is an inherent trust that the Shanahan family has known for so long.
In fact, Williams said he was in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, with Shanahan’s father, Mike, just before the free agency started and the topic of free agency never even came up. No point of sale of any member of the Shanahan family was required.
“Kyle is like family to me,” Williams said. “His family is like family to me … It’s just how close I am to that family. Kyle has nothing to sell to me. I already knew what this place had to offer. I knew what he had to offer.” and I knew what the front office would offer. ‘
It turned out that the deal was only made after the front office offered the largest contract for an offensive lineout in NFL history. Shortly afterwards, Shanahan sent Williams a message saying he should “fetch” the sixth year of his contract, which means the 32-year-old Williams has a chance to show he can remain an elite branch until deep in his contract and his 30s. Possibly even his 40s.
“I think it’s well within reach to play up to 40,” Williams said. “As I feel at the moment, I think I have six years in my body. But I’m not going to be unrealistic. I’ll take it one day at a time and continue to plug it, but that’s the goal. “I have something to prove. Can I play at a high level until I’m 40? We’ll see.”