NFL: 30 running backs who got better after leaving their first team

Although he was a first-round pick in the 1991 NFL Draft, Harvey Williams‘ playing time with the Kansas City Chiefs was meager at best. As the backup to Barry Word and Christian Okoye, the former All-SEC running back was limited to just 858 total running yards and two touchdowns in his first three seasons in the league.

If anyone was due for a change of scenery, it was Williams. He made the most of his second chance with the then-Los Angeles Raiders, starting in 10 games in 1994 and running for a team-leading 983 yards. Even though the franchise moved to Oakland the following season, Williams remained the lead guy, going for a career-high 1,114 yards and nine touchdowns.

His reign as the team’s starting running back didn’t last all that long though, as former Washington Huskies star Napoleon Kaufmann started to take over. Even though they largely split the carries in 1996, Williams’ inability to get yardage ultimately cost him the job. He eventually was relegated to the backup running back/tight end role.

Williams didn’t have many notable performances after that for the Raiders, except for a November game against the rival San Diego Chargers in 1997. He only had a total of seven touches for 66 yards, but Williams managed to find the end zone four different times in that game.

It was a great moment for his career that was winding down, ultimately retiring in 1998. After a rough start to his NFL career, Williams was able to find both comfort and a real role for the Raiders at his second and most important stop.