Eagles release a former 1st-round pick … 29 years after he played his last game

Eagles release a former 1st-round pick … 29 years after he played his last game originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Eagles surprisingly waived one of their former first-round picks on Thursday.

This pick, who hasn’t played a game in almost 30 years, is Bernard Williams.

During his rookie season in 1994, he achieved a notable achievement as an All-Rookie offensive tackle. However, after a positive marijuana test in his second season, he was subsequently suspended and sidelined for the rest of the season. This led to a premature end of his NFL career after just one year.

Described as a “forgotten guy on an obscure reserve list,” Williams hadn’t applied for reinstatement in the NFL, leaving him suspended for almost 30 years.

NFL officials contacted the Eagles to clear out old players from reserve lists, which brought attention to Williams’ status as a still-technically active member of the team even though he wasn’t playing or receiving any benefits.

Williams was drafted as the Eagles’ first-round pick out of Georgia in 1994. Unfortunately, his career took a sharp turn due to the suspension, leading to his early exit from the NFL. Despite continuing his career in other football leagues, his last NFL game was in 1994.

This abrupt end to his NFL career has left some in disbelief, highlighting the unpredictability of the professional sports industry.

Finally, Williams’ circumstances serve as a lasting cautionary tale for both players and sports organizations about the importance of carefully evaluating and nurturing talent.