A dream that began on the Alaskan gridirons is becoming more vivid as East Anchorage alum Aiden Williams agreed to an NFL contract Saturday, signing to the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent.
Williams’ jump to the next level comes after 40 games in four seasons with the University of Minnesota Duluth. He was redshirted for his true-freshman season in 2019 and gained another year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 Pandemic canceling the 2020 season.
In his time with the Bulldogs, Williams was named a DII Honorable Mention All-American and was a nominee for DII lineman of the year in his final season.
On the field, Williams also became the lead blocker on a line that helped produce the second-best rushing yards per game in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. He is expected to transition to guard at the NFL level, according to draft analysis.
In the Last Frontier, Williams played his high school ball at East Anchorage High School. Across his four-year career, the now 6-foot-5, 314 lb. lineman earned Alaska All-State honors as a tight end twice while also stepping in as a defensive end and long snapper.
In the postseason, the Thunderbird alum helped lead the program to two state titles in 2016 and 2018. Williams was also a four-year letterman in basketball.
Williams hopes to join about a dozen other Alaskans on the professional gridiron, with a handful coming in recent years.
The Buffalo Bills selected South Anchorage’s Edefuan Ulofoshio 160th overall in the 2024 NFL draft last year, while the Seattle Seahawks signed Dimond’s Brandon Pili and Palmer’s Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu to reserve/future contracts this offseason.
Williams will make his first impression with the black and gold at rookie minicamp starting on May 9.