Former Miami Dolphins defensive back Trill Williams is hanging up his cleats and putting on his wrestling shoes, inking a deal with WWE.
Williams, 24, went undrafted out of Syracuse in 2021. However, the safety secured a deal with the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad and later joined the Dolphins.
With an appearance for Miami under his belt, he went unsigned for two years after getting waived by the Dolphins before the 2023 season and eventually switched paths to pro wrestling.
According to Bobby Shouse of The Dive Bar Podcast, Williams signed with the WWE after a successful tryout over the summer.
The timeline for his TV appearances with the promotion remains unclear, although he will likely start with the developmental program NXT.
Former Miami Dolphins player Trill Williams signed with WWE after getting cut from the NFL
Williams already made his debut in front of the WWE cameras with a backstage cameo on Tuesday’s NXT installment.
The Syracuse product’s presumed path also stems from WWE’s main programs, Raw and Smackdown, rarely welcoming new talent unless they have valuable wrestling experience.
Williams would not be the first NFL star to try his hand at pro wrestling. WWE veteran talent Baron Corbin, who left the promotion earlier this month, spent time with the Indianapolis Colts in 2009 and Arizona Cardinals from 2010-11 before taking the squared circle.
On the contrary, WWE and UFC star Brock Lesnar tried his luck in the NFL by joining the Vikings. However, the wrestling legend was cut in the preseason.
Roman Reigns, the biggest star in the WWE today, also tried out for the Vikings and Jaguars before spending a season with the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League.
