INTERVIEW: Jamaal Williams Bridges The Gap Between NFL Stardom And Anime Fandom – But Why Tho?

As a Minnesota Vikings fan, I’ve had the bittersweet pleasure of watching NFL Running Back Jamaal Williams rush for over 500 yards, receive another 130, and celebrate in the end zone 3 times, whether with the Detroit Lions or the Green Bay Packers. Despite his success against my favorite team, Williams is one player I can’t help but cheer for. He’s an unapologetic nerd, and his off-field interviews have made him someone I genuinely root for.

Walking into our interview and seeing Williams dressed in Naruto gear with a WWE US Champion Belt, I knew it was going to be memorable. Wearing my El Paso Strong shirt, we instantly bonded over El Paso’s own Aaron Jones, whom I had the pleasure of playing against in high school and who was Jamaal’s former teammate. This showed just how genuine Williams is in seeking connections. His energy is infectious, and our conversation is a testament to anime’s universal language, whether you’re an NFL Running Back or a guy whose athletic career ended in college rugby.

BUT WHY THO: You’re dressed up in cosplay today, so no one will ever doubt how much you love anime. Can you talk to us briefly about how anime has influenced your life and career, both on and off the field?

JAMAAL WILLIAMS: Anime has really just been something to help me through my adversities growing up, just because of how I was raised. Single mother, most of the time, didn’t really see my dad much. So it was pretty much just growing up, you know, typical angry young man. Anime was something that really helped me control my anger and put it into something positive, like football and running track at the time. 

Watching Naruto, Gaara was my favorite, and I could relate to him the quickest. I related to Naruto too, but Naruto took a path I wasn’t ready for at the time. So I stuck with Gaara because, you know, Gaara, we were on some real [makes a grimace and grunt face]. We were taking everybody out. We were at hospitals.

BUT WHY THO: Isn’t it crazy how much anime can change, especially from when you watched it as a kid to now as an adult? Kaiju No. 8 for me right now has me in a tizzy as a 30-year-old. 

So, you’ve experienced the energies of NFL stadiums. How does that compare to the excitement of something like Anime Expo and other conventions?

JAMAAL WILLIAMS: Well, here it’s so much different because I actually feel at home. I feel like these are my people. This is where I’ve always wanted to be because it’s just nerds, and us just having fun and doing what we love. I don’t have that in football. At work, it’s all about football. Only probably like two, three people on the team really understand anime. But here, I feel the energy. These are my people.

BUT WHY THO: Many adults hesitate to embrace their love for geek culture due to stereotypes. What message would you have for those who are afraid to let their geek flag fly proudly?

JAMAAL WILLIAMS: Look, I promise you being yourself and loving what you love and not being afraid, being unapologetically you is the best way of living life. Because, at the end of the day, you’re the one who put yourself there. When you go to Heaven, you’re the only one who’s going with you. So while you’re on Earth, live for yourself. 

Don’t let other people’s opinions change or demean how you feel about yourself. Be yourself. If you want to cosplay, be a cosplayer. Go do it. If you want to dress up as your favorite hero and let people know why you dress like that, do whatever helps you find peace at the end of the day.

BUT WHY THO: Well said. You touched on really relating to characters in Naruto. What is it about those qualities that you’re seeking? Do you see any of those in the newer animes you’re watching today?

JAMAAL WILLIAMS: Yeah, I do. The thing I like about anime is for most characters, it’s just the consistency of trying to overcome adversity. Like, you’re not going to let adversity stop you from getting to your dream. I’m watching One Piece, and I’m like, a 10003 episodes in. You know how many times this boy is about to die, close to death?

BUT WHY THO: Ya, he loses a lot.

JAMAAL WILLIAMS: Yeah. He has not deterred from the point of he’s going to be King of the Pirates. And to me, I’m just like, “Ooh, that’s a lot”, but he’s doing it. It makes you think about your own life, like, man, I don’t want to keep going, or I’m tired. I don’t feel like I can keep going, but you actually can. And the best thing I’ve learned from people, especially my boy Yoda. He’s my wisdom man.

BUT WHY THO: Do or do not, there is no try. [points at my own Yoda tattoo in Aurebesh]

JAMAAL WILLIAMS: Look at you, you’re funny. I get a lot from him. I got a lot from my running back coach, Duke Staley. He told me, “Adversity visits the strong but stays forever with the weak.” And him saying that hit me. I was like, damn, you hit me with an anime quote. Yeah, I got you. He really became someone I really just enjoy.

BUT WHY THO: With that connection to the game, do you have any anime rituals? Are you watching anything specifically the night before a game to get you in the zone?

JAMAAL WILLIAMS: I listen to the Akatsuki theme song. Before the game, I walk on the field to that. [Begins to sing the first few notes of the song]

And that’s just to get me in my mindset of just know what time it is because we’ve got to give pain. I love anime because it really puts me in my mode of it’s time to go to work.

Like, I’m still laughing. I’m still smiling. I still got my evil smile, and I’m just laughing, having a great time. And people on the field don’t know what to do.

BUT WHY THO: It’s like that Kid Buu energy. You know? [Jamaal Williams shows his leg tattoos of Kid Buu and Gaara] Yeah. See, look, I knew it. You got a type, you got a type. 

On and off the field, you’re super known for your interactions with fans. Do you have any memorable experiences at conventions that compare to that now that you’re more with your people?

JAMAAL WILLIAMS: The funny part is, this is honestly the first time I’ve been to a convention that I actually dressed up for. I’ve been to another one, but I was just signing stuff. I didn’t even know, like all I seen was I’m signing stuff. I forgot where I was going. So when I got there, I was like, dang, I should’ve brought my sword. I was like, dang, I should’ve dressed up. But this time, I knew I was coming down. I’m like, you know what? I’m about to just pick up everything I got and just dress up one time and just have fun with it. 

So I’m just enjoying it, bro. I love seeing people cosplay. I love seeing my characters outside. Like, I was in the hotel yesterday, and this dude was bringing his stuff in on the luggage thing. I seen an Ace hat. I was like, Oh, so you’re going to be Ace tomorrow? He’s like, no, no, no, no. That’s for my friend. I’m going to be Gojo. Like, I don’t even know these people, but we have anime in common. So that just automatically makes me want to talk to you. Anime is just a great conversation starter and everything.

BUT WHY THO: I think so too, man. I think it’s like a universal language. I really think it is. I know you said that your teammates aren’t really big into it, but if you think you could pitch them one that would get them into it?

JAMAAL WILLIAMS: Baki, Baki, much easier. Too easy.

BUT WHY THO: Too easy?

JAMAAL WILLIAMS: Yeah. Cause like for people who don’t watch anime. When they watch like Dragon Ball Z or Naruto or anything, they start seeing like the special, when they started powering up and all that other stuff, it makes them think we’re in a fantasy world now, you know? So I try to give them one that’s literally like, they ain’t got no real superpowers. They just good at fighting, you know what I mean? And then there’s some dirty stuff in there. They doing dirty tricks, using hand grenades. Shoot, boy put a grenade in old boy’s mouth and blew his cheeks off. So it’s like, there are some parts in there you’re going to be like, Whoa, and it’s going to be good for you.

BUT WHY THO: Any success yet?

JAMAAL WILLIAMS: I don’t know. I give them to them, and I don’t press them no more about it. But if they don’t go see it themselves, I can’t help them no more. That’s all. But that’s the thing though. It’s like, I be having people who don’t watch anime come up to me and ask, what’s an anime you recommend? I just say Baki real quick. Cause that’s just the easiest one for them.

 You ain’t got to go nowhere. So you don’t even have to get Crunchyroll most times, but please get Crunchyroll. Cause they be like, “What’s Crunchyroll?” What is that? I’ll be like, it’s basically the Netflix version for anime. And I’ll just be like, it’s just straight anime. If you want to see it, you can. I literally just watch that all day.

BUT WHY THO: Anything you’re watching lately that really is catching your attention? Or anything you want to jump into now that you’re here at Anime Expo and seeing all the great stuff, all the great cosplays and panels?

JAMAAL WILLIAMS: I just really want to finish One Piece. I’m at episode 1003. I’m so close. Just hearing I’m only a 100 and some episodes behind, it’s much better than saying I’m a 1000 behind. When I hit it, episode 1000 I cried. I literally started crying. I tweeted it out too. I just want to let people know, One Piece journey past a thousand episodes. So let’s go! 10 to go.

BUT WHY THO: Love to hear it.

JAMAAL WILLIAMS: So that’s pretty much the one. Record  of Ragnarok was it. I’m going to try Kaiju No. 8. 

BUT WHY THO: Kaiju No. 8, man. It’s fire, man. Lots of things that we talked about, that perseverance, not staying in that defeat. So I think you’ll love it.

JAMAAL WILLIAMS: I heard good things about Code Geass. I’m watching that one a little bit.

BUT WHY THO: Yeah, you’ll like that one too. There’s probably no anime you’re not going to like, it’s all fire at this point.

JAMAAL WILLIAMS:And then my little sister, she is seven, seven turning eight. I’m just now getting her into Pokemon. I started at the old, you know, [sings] “I want to be the very best.” And we spent like three days trying to learn all the Pokemon starters. And she got them down now.

BUT WHY THO: And now you spawned an anime head and her life is forever changed. So that’s the power of it all.

JAMAAL WILLIAMS: Yeah, moving on to Pokemon Evolutions now. She’s doing great. I enjoy just showing my daughter, my little sister, more anime than I grew up on, so they can start there and not have to jump all the way to the new stuff. I want them to enjoy being kids. Watch these kid animes first before getting into the hot stuff.

BUT WHY THO: No, it makes sense. Because they’re the things that inspired you to do all the things you’re doing, right? So why not show them that first?

JAMAAL WILLIAMS: Oh, yeah. And you know, they’re still kids. You try not to give them the too violent stuff.

BUT WHY THO: They’re not getting Baki.

JAMAAL WILLIAMS: No, no, no. They’re not getting Baki. Not yet anyway. 

BUT WHY THO: Alright Jamaal, well those are all the questions I had. I really appreciate you taking the time to speak with us. I hope you have a lot of fun this weekend. 

JAMAAL WILLIAMS: Thanks, man. This was fun.

Wrapping up our conversation with Jamaal Williams, it’s clear that his passion for anime and geek culture runs deep, transcending the football field and connecting with fans on a personal level. His infectious energy, genuine connections, and the wisdom he draws from anime characters showcase how this art form can inspire and unite people from all walks of life.

As Williams continues to excel both on and off the field, it’s heartening to see how anime remains a central part of his journey, reminding us all that embracing our passions can lead to meaningful connections and lasting impact.

This interview was edited for length and clarity.