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Seahawks Starting Center Connor Williams Shockingly Retires From Football Midseason

The 27-year-old won't return to the team after the bye week.

Tom Dierberger

Williams started nine games at center for Seattle this season.
Williams started nine games at center for Seattle this season. / Kevin Ng-Imagn Images
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Seattle Seahawks starting center Connor Williams is calling it a career.

Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald told reporters Friday that Williams has officially decided to retire immediately due to personal reasons after starting all nine games at center for Seattle this season.

Macdonald also said he doesn't believe Williams will change his mind and return to the Seahawks in 2024.

Williams, a second-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2018, spent four seasons with the organization before signing a two-year deal with the Miami Dolphins in 2022. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 14 last season and signed a one-year deal with Seattle in August.

The Seahawks, losers of five of their last six games that erased a perfect 3-0 start to the season, were on a bye in Week 10 and are scheduled to battle the rival San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on Sunday.

Olu Oluwatimi, a fifth-round pick by Seattle in 2023, will get his second career start at center on Sunday.

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Tom Dierberger
TOM DIERBERGER

Tom Dierberger is a staff writer and editor on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in November 2023 after stints at FOX Sports, Bally Sports and NBC Sports. Dierberger has a bachelor's in communication from St. John's University. In his spare time, he can be seen throwing out his arm while playing fetch with his dog, Walter B. Boy.

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