BREAKING: CB K’Waun Williams confirms Retirement After Unsuccessful Seasons

After missing the entire 2023 season due to an ankle injury, veteran cornerback also sat out 2024 and is not expected to pursue a comeback in 2025. According to Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette, the 33-year-old slot defender is likely to retire, concluding a 10-year NFL career that included stints with the Broncos, 49ers, and Browns.

Williams joined the Broncos in 2022 on a two-year, $5.2 million deal to replace Bryce Callahan and appeared in 14 games during Denver’s challenging season under Nathaniel Hackett. However, an ankle injury in the summer of 2023 sidelined him indefinitely, and despite being kept on the 53-man roster in hopes of a return, he did not recover in time. Williams became a free agent after 2023, but despite interest from five or six teams in 2024, no deal materialized.

Williams is best remembered for his five-year tenure with the 49ers, where he thrived as the team’s slot corner under defensive coordinators Robert Saleh and DeMeco Ryans. Signed by San Francisco in 2017 after being waived by the Browns, Williams played a key role in the 49ers’ defensive success, including their Super Bowl LIV appearance following a 13-3 season in 2019. That year, he forced four fumbles and added another during the NFC Championship win over the Packers.

Over his career, Williams earned over $18 million, with two 49ers contracts—a three-year, $8.85 million extension in 2017 and a one-year deal in 2021—contributing significantly. Known for his reliable coverage, Williams surrendered just two touchdowns across his final four seasons and recorded five interceptions, 11 forced fumbles, and 34 passes defensed overall.

If Williams does retire, his contributions will leave a lasting mark, particularly with the 49ers, who struggled to find a consistent replacement for him in recent years. The Broncos have since turned to Ja’Quan McMillian to fill the slot role in his absence.