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Seattle Seahawks starting center Connor Williams has decided to suddenly retire at the age of 27 with eight games remaining in the 2024 NFL season, head coach Mike Macdonald told reporters on Friday (November 15).
"Connor earlier this week decided to retire," Macdonald said via ESPN. "Personal reasons. We respect that. Wish him the best. We've got to move forward."
Macdonald didn't provide additional details beyond specifying that Williams' decision wasn't influenced by possible issues with his surgically repaired knee and said that he was under the impression that the center's decision was final.
"I don't believe so," Macdonald said when asked if Williams would potentially change his mind about retirement. "We're honoring his wishes, and we'll keep all those reasons and conversations private for obvious reasons and wish him the best."
Macdonald confirmed that Olu Oluwatimi would take over the starting center role in Williams' absence and that the team would likely add another player over the weekend. Williams, a Texas native, was selected by the Dallas Cowboys at No. 50 overall in the second-round of the 2018 NFL Draft and spent his first four seasons with the franchise. The former University of Texas standout spent two seasons with the Miami Dolphins, which included suffering a season-ending ACL tear in Week 14 of the 2013 season, months before signing a one-year, $6 million deal with the Seahawks this offseason.