In a fitting and worthy end to his 2022 season, Lions running back Jamaal Williams has been named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 18.
The Detroit Lions ended their 2022 season on a high note, even without being able to make the playoffs, with a 20-16 win over the Green Bay Packers. Jamaal Williams took center stage during and after the game, reaching 1,000 rushing yards for the season (the first Lion to do so since Reggie Bush in 2013), scoring two touchdowns to set the new franchise record for rushing touchdowns in a season and finishing with an epic postgame interview with NBC’s Melissa Stark.
Williams started off his postgame interview by dedicating the game to his recently deceased great-grandfather, through some understandable tears. Then he made what can best be called a fantastic heel turn.
"And another thing, stop playing us, man,” Williams continued. “We the Detroit Lions. We the Detroit Lions, stop playing with us. I don’t even watch TV but I heard everybody already picked the Packers over us. Stop playing with us! That’s all I gotta say.”"
On Wednesday, Williams was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 18.
Jamaal Williams adds perfect end to Lions Player of the Week award haul
Williams is the first Lions running back to win NFC Offensive Player of the Week since Kevin Jones in 2011. He also became the sixth Lion to win a Player of the Week award this season, tying the 1995 team for the most in Lions history during a season.
.@Lions RB @jswaggdaddy was named the Week 18 NFC Offensive Player of the Week. He's the 1st Lions RB to win the award since Kevin Smith in 2011.
— Detroit Lions PR (@LionsPR) January 11, 2023
Detroit had 6 different players win a POTW award in 2022, tied with the 1995 Lions for the most recipients in a season in DET history pic.twitter.com/HcH5xKCtt3
Here are the other Lions to win NFC Player of the Week awards this season.
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown–Offensive Player of the Week, Week 2
S Kerby Joseph–Defensive Player of the Week, Week 9
DE Aidan Hutchinson–Defensive Player of the Week, Week 10
PK Michael Badgley–Special Teams Player of the Week, Week 13
WR/PR Kalif Raymond–Special Teams Player of the Week, Week 15
Williams is now set to become a free agent, but it would be a surprise if he’s not re-signed as both sides seem to want to stay together awhile longer.