The Big man is coming home. Louisiana’s own Kyle Williams is returning to his alma mater as the LSU Tigers’ new defensive line coach. Williams was an All-American who played 13 NFL seasons for the Buffalo Bills.
LSU Legend Kyle Williams Has Big Shoes to Fill as the Tiger’s New D-Line Coach
Coming off a 9-4 season with a 44-31 Texas Bowl win over Baylor, head coach Brian Kelly knew that wasn’t enough. Facing pressure from fans and supporters alike, the message was made clear: make the playoffs or face the consequences.
Kyle Williams, an All-America defensive tackle for the Tigers and 13-year NFL veteran, returns to Baton Rouge as LSU’s defensive line coach pic.twitter.com/c2f0tFyD6E
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) March 12, 2025
Coaching in Baton Rouge comes with a lot of pressure, something Williams knows all too well. As a player, he ranked among the nation’s top interior linemen, being named to All-SEC twice and earning first-team All-American honors as a senior.
As a sophomore, he helped anchor LSU’s top defensive unit with a 13-1 record and BCS National Championship victory over the Oklahoma Sooners. He would go on to start 33 straight games, recording 140 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, and 16.5 sacks. He also served as team captain, leading the Tigers to two straight SEC Championship games.
In the 2006 NFL draft, the Bills selected Williams in the fifth round. He’d never leave, playing his entire 13-year career in Buffalo. Earning Pro Bowl honors six times, he retired with 609 tackles, 103 tackles for loss, and 48.5 sacks.
After his retirement in 2018, he served as the defensive coordinator at Ruston High School, winning the state title in 2023 and runner-up in 2024.
Head coach Brian Kelly described Williams as “a quality individual with high character -really someone you want recruiting student-athletes here to LSU. We are really excited about his addition to our staff.”
Williams understands the gravity of the assignment and hopes to fill the void left by Bo Davis, the top defensive line coach, who went to the New Orleans Saints.
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He’s looking to help improve a defense that ranked 61st overall in the country last season, surrendering 364.4 ypg, while ranking 30th in total sacks.
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