Bucs induct ex-QB Doug Williams into Ring of Honor
Joey Johnston, The Tampa Tribune, published 7 December 2015

Nearly 33 years after he last took a snap for the Bucs, former quarterback Doug Williams heard thunderous cheers from Raymond James Stadium fans Sunday when he was inducted into Tampa Bay’s Ring of Honor.

He said it felt great. “If this had been five years past when I left, it probably wouldn’t have happened,’’ said Williams, 60.

“It’s kind of like my mom, bless her soul, when she cooks red beans. You’ve got to let it simmer a little bit. After years of simmering, people realized the impact Doug Williams had on this area and the franchise. The respect comes after that.’’

When the induction was complete — when the 12 Williams sign was unveiled along the stadium’s east-side façade — Williams became the eighth Ring of Honor member, joining Lee Roy Selmon (2009), John McKay (2010), Jimmie Giles (2011), Paul Gruber (2012), Warren Sapp (2013), Derrick Brooks (2014) and Mike Alstott (2015).

Williams, the team’s 1978 first-round pick from Grambling University, led the Bucs to three playoff appearances in five seasons. The 1979 Bucs were 10 points away from playing in Super Bowl XIV.

He left the Bucs after the 1982 season, following acrimonious contract negotiations with owner Hugh Culverhouse. He played in the USFL and, later, for the Washington Redskins, where he was Most Valuable Player of the Super Bowl XXII.

After Williams departed, the Bucs endured 14 consecutive losing seasons. After thhe Glazer family purchased the team, Williams returned to the Bucs in 2004 and spent seven seasons in the front office.

“We had a great reception (Saturday night with former teammates) and all they talked about was, ‘After you left, everything fell apart,’ ‘’ Williams said. “That’s a bad feeling for me. I thought I’d never leave Tampa when I first got here. I didn’t know the business of football. I learned quickly.”

Sunday was a time for positive memories. Williams basked in the love, enjoying the fans who wore No. 12 orange jerseys. The stadium’s loudspeaker played, “Hey, Hey, Tampa Bay,’’ the 1979 team’s theme song, and “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now,’’ the team’s locker-room anthem. “My wife, Raunda, looked in that stadium and told me, ‘This is a great day, honey, enjoy it,’” Williams said. “And I did.’’