Seahawks center Connor Williams has announced his retirement, as confirmed by head coach Mike Macdonald during a news conference on Friday, per Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times.
Williams, who tore his ACL in December 2023, saw his free agency prospects significantly impacted due to doubts about his readiness for the 2024 season. After passing a physical, he signed with the Seahawks eight months later and started all nine games at center this season.
Macdonald explained that Williams’ decision to retire was due to “personal reasons” and clarified that his knee injury was not a factor in the choice. The first-year head coach expressed confidence that Williams would not reconsider his retirement and return this season.
Over a seven-year career, Williams earned 86 starts and appeared in 92 games. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys as a second-round pick in 2018 and quickly secured the starting left guard spot. Williams later signed a two-year, $14 million contract with the Miami Dolphins in 2022, starting all 17 games at center. However, his 2023 season was marred by injuries, culminating in an ACL tear in December. His return to the field in 2024 was seen as an impressive recovery, but Williams ultimately chose retirement, finishing his career with $22.3 million in earnings, according to OverTheCap.
With Williams’ retirement, the Seahawks will now turn to Olu Oluwatimi, a 2023 fifth-round draft pick, to fill the center position. Oluwatimi started one game as a rookie, totaling 128 snaps. The Seahawks’ offensive line has faced multiple changes this season, including the recent loss of George Fant to injured reserve for the second time, and the return of Abraham Lucas is expected, though he will be on a snap count, according to Macdonald.
