Arizona Cardinals: Aeneas Williams Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame

Feb 1, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Arizona Cardinals and St. Louis Rams former cornerback Aeneas Williams is introduced for as an inductee for the 2014 Pro Football Hall of Fame class at the 3rd NFL Honors at Radio Music City Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The time has come for one of the Arizona Cardinals’ own to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Aeneas Williams has been elected and will represent the first player drafted by this city’s version of the Cardinals to enter the prestigious fraternity of football.

Williams will be joined by Michael Strahan, Walter Jones, Derrick Brooks, Andre Reed, Ray Guy and Claude Humphrey.

Aeneas was drafted by the Cardinals back in 1991 and stayed with the organization for 10 years before finishing his career as a member of the St. Louis Rams. Williams appeared in all 16 games in all 10 seasons that he was in the valley, starting all but one (during his rookie year).

Williams finished his career with 55 interceptions, leading the league with nine in 1994. He scored nine touchdowns off of those interceptions, twice leading the league with two in a season (1995, 2001). Williams also returned three fumbles for touchdowns, including a 104-yard return back in 2000.

He made eight Pro Bowls, including a stretch of six consecutive from 1994-99. He was named first-team All-Pro three different times (1995, 1997, 2001).

Although Williams didn’t get the opportunity to win a Super Bowl, he was extremely successful in his limited postseason time. In six starts, Williams posted six interceptions and two interception returns for a touchdown. Those two touchdowns came in the same game as a member of the 2001 Rams against the Green Bay Packers.

The Cardinals already honored Williams with an entry into the Ring of Honor back in 2008. He’s got a lot of respect from his peers as well, with none other than Deion Sanders putting a cherry on top:

"Aeneas Williams was one of the best corners to play the game if y’all didn’t know!"

Michael Dunlap is an NBA credentialed writer who is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief for the Sports Illustrated/Fansided NBA site HoopsHabit.com and the Arizona Sports site HeatWaved.com. He also covers high school sports for The Arizona Republic. Follow me on Twitter @DunlapNBA.