Omari Williams, a former student-athlete, has made a name for himself in the European League of Football (ELF). A native of Birmingham, Williams played football at Samford from 2014 to 2017. He was a standout defensive back during his time in a Bulldogs uniform. He finished his Samford career with 195 tackles and 10 interceptions.

Williams got the opportunity to play overseas a few years after his Samford career ended. “I came over here in 2019,” he said. “The team hit me up on Facebook and asked if I wanted to come to Europe and play football. At first, I didn’t know, but the more I thought about it, I eventually decided to make the move.”

Williams has been a part of three league championships during his time in Europe, one with the Frankfurt Galaxy and two with his current team, the Rhein Fire. In the most recent season, Williams made league history, becoming the all-time leader in interceptions in ELF history.

The experience of playing football in front of an international crowd has been different but exciting. “The fans are a lot different here than they are back home. They are more like friends than people who just cheer for you,” he said. “Living in the city and taking public transit, people will come up and talk to you. They’re around, and they want to be a part of it.”

In addition to playing for the Rhein Fire, Williams also coaches a women’s flag football team, the Düsseldorf Firecats. He said once his playing days are over, he hopes to stay in Europe and continue coaching.

This story was first published in the fall 2025 issue of Samford Magazine. You can read the issue online.