Ottawa Redblacks left tackle Ucambre Williams appears to be retiring from football after six seasons in the CFL.
The 30-year-old offensive lineman has not made any official announcement regarding his future but shared images on various social media platforms this weekend of a retirement party held in his honour. According to shared posts, the event appears to have been a surprise birthday and retirement celebration hosted by Williams’ family and friends back home in Alabama, with memorabilia from his playing career prominently displayed throughout the event.
The six-foot-three, 312-pounder has dressed for 74 career CFL games, including 11 starts for the Redblacks in 2022. Williams was a prized free agent signing by Ottawa general manager Shawn Burke last offseason, stabilizing an offensive line that was the worst in the league in 2021.
Williams first arrived in the CFL in 2016, joining the Calgary Stampeders following a standout NCAA career at the University of South Alabama. He immediately became known for his versatility, starting three regular-season games at right tackle, before moving to right guard for the Grey Cup.
Between 2017 and 2018, Williams played 33 games at centre for Calgary and earned West Division all-star honours in 2017. The versatile blocker started 16 games for the Stamps in 2019, split between centre and tackle, before sticking as the blindside protector for 11 games in 2021.
Williams won one Grey Cup with the Stamps in 2018. H contract with the Redblacks is slated to expire in February.
