Ricky Williams, one of the most memorable running backs in NFL history, is in the spotlight thanks to a resurfaced interview clip making waves online.
The two-year-old segment from the podcast “All the Smoke” revisits the infamous 1999 trade in which the New Orleans Saints gave up their entire draft class and two picks in 2000 to move up and select Williams at No. 5 overall. As fans and analysts look back on the deal, Williams’ brutally honest take is grabbing attention all over again.
Ricky Williams on Saints’ NFL Draft Trade: ‘Don’t Do It’
“I wouldn’t have done it,” Williams said without hesitation. “I mean, if he would have come to me and he said, ‘I’m thinking about making this trade,’ I would have said, ‘Don’t do it.’”
It’s a surprisingly candid admission from the man at the center of one of the boldest moves in NFL Draft history. At the time, Saints head coach Mike Ditka pushed all his chips in on Williams, who was coming off a dominant run at Texas, capped by a Heisman Trophy and a reputation as a can’t-miss talent. But even Williams knew the price the Saints paid was steep — and probably too steep.
“I wouldn’t have done it.”⁰⁰Ricky Williams keeps it real about the blockbuster trade before the 1999 NFL Draft 💀
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Williams’ NFL journey, which spanned 11 seasons, was as dramatic as his draft day. He rushed for 10,009 yards, scored 66 touchdowns, and averaged 4.1 yards per carry throughout his career. His best year came in 2002 with the Miami Dolphins, when he led the league in rushing with 1,853 yards and earned first-team All-Pro honors. But despite the talent, his career was often disrupted by injuries and off-field issues, including multiple suspensions that kept him from reaching the long-term greatness many expected.
Still, when Williams was on the field, he showed why teams were willing to go all-in. Whether powering through defenders or breaking off explosive runs, he always had the ability to change the game with a single play. His mix of size, speed, and vision made him one of the most compelling backs of his era.
The Saints, however, didn’t get the return they were hoping for. They finished 3-13 in 1999, and Ditka was fired after the season. Washington, which received the haul of picks from the trade, used them to build a stronger foundation — including landing Hall of Famer Champ Bailey.
Now that the clip is going viral again, it’s clear the conversation around that trade and Williams’ legacy isn’t going away. It’s a reminder of just how high the stakes can be when a team bets it all on one player. Sometimes, the risk doesn’t pay off.