Pat Williams Signs Contract To Retire As A Viking

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — Pat Williams has signed a one-day contract so he can officially retire as a Minnesota Viking.

The popular defensive tackle has been out of football since 2010. He says he was content to just fade away into retirement until Vikings GM Rick Spielman called him last month to make it happen. Williams played the final six seasons of his 13-year career for the Vikings after starting in Buffalo.

He says the first year away from football was difficult, but he is starting to settle into life without the game. But he still isn't over the team's loss to the Saints in the NFC championship game after the 2009 season.

Now he is at home in Louisiana and says he plans to be an assistant coach on a local high school football team next year.

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