Fresh off a regular season in which Trent Williams—the highest-paid offensive tackle in the NFL—put up the highest single-season PFF grade ever, and made the NFL's All-Pro team, it's obvious the San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle is playing the best football of his career, which is impressive because the 11-year veteran has always been an elite offensive lineman throughout his career, making nine Pro Bowl teams.
However, from the time he joined the 49ers, Williams has taken on a larger role than just being a star left tackle. During his time with the Washington Football Team, Williams was tagged as an independent player who didn't demonstrate many leadership qualities, which may have led to his eventual unstable departure after the 2019 NFL season. Now, Williams has become a staple of the Niners' offense and a leader the team can turn to.
"I've been around for a long time and a ton of these guys on the team [have] been watching me play since they were in middle school or you know high school, so I think my role is just that kind of that emotional guy that has pretty been through everything in the NFL," Williams told Rich Eisen on the Rich Eisen Show.
"I feel like I can relate to every player in the locker room at some level. Whatever level they are or whatever phase they are in their career I feel like I can relate to them and that's just how I try to motivate them, by relating to the guys and just helping through everything. Again also I'm trying to lead by example and what I put into the game every day," Williams continued.
Another player on the 49ers that is having the best season of his career is third-year wide receiver Deebo Samuel. When asked about the physicality that the newly-minted All-Pro plays with, Williams praised his teammate.
"Deebo is special. He's not like any player I've ever seen," Williams said. "When I first saw Deebo last year when I was watching film from the previous year, I told him that I felt like he was one of the best people I've ever seen with the football.
"I've never seen a guy with that versatility other than Percy Harvin. He [Deebo] was one of the better guys I've ever seen in person and I think this year he just blew it out the water. We are very very blessed and lucky to have him on our team."
Part of Deebo's success this year is the coaching staff manufacturing touches for the star in order to get the ball in his hands as much as possible. Williams gives head coach Kyle Shanahan the credit for these schemes.
"Kyle being such a genius as an offensive-minded coach marries up perfectly with one of the unicorn weapons that we have in Deebo," the offensive lineman said.
Finally, Williams also confirmed the legendary story claiming that Deebo Samuel asked Shanahan to "give him the ball" just before scoring against the Cowboys.
"Exactly how it went. That's Deebo man, he's a competitor like no other," Williams added.