Former Patriots Defensive Tackle Lester Williams Dies at Age 58

Former NFL defensive tackle Lester Williams died Wednesday at his home in Birmingham, Alabama, the Patriots announced.

He was 58.

A 1982 first-round pick of the New England Patriots, Williams spent six seasons in the NFL. He played four years with the Patriots before finishing out with stints for the San Diego Chargers and Seattle Seahawks.

"I am very proud to be part of the 1982 draft class, and having Lester Williams as a part of that class made playing defense a lot more fun," former teammate  Andre Tippett said in a statement. "As a nose tackle, Lester was a key to our success in the 3-4 defense. I remember how frustrated opposing centers became playing against him. He anchored the line for us and was a great teammate to play alongside. On behalf of the entire organization, our thoughts and prayers are with Lester's family, friends and former teammates who are mourning his loss today."

Williams played in just 46 games during his six-year career and finished with 6.5 sacks. He was part of the Patriots' 1985 AFC championship team. 

His time in the NFL followed a stellar career at Miami, where he was named a 1981 All-American and was inducted into the university's Hall of Fame in 1999. Williams still holds the Miami record for his position with 210 career tackles.