According to reports, former Michigan State defensive end Raequan Williams is trying out for the Detroit Lions.

Raequan Williams is not your typical NFL hopeful. At 28 years old, the former Michigan State defensive tackle is stepping back onto the field with a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper reservoir of experience than most participants at the Detroit Lions’ rookie minicamp. What may appear as a longshot opportunity is, for Williams, a final audition to revive a football career that once showed great promise but stalled due to the brutal unpredictability of the professional ranks.

The Lions’ invitation to Williams for a rookie minicamp tryout is far more than a footnote in the NFL offseason calendar—it’s the continuation of a deeply personal journey shaped by hardship, perseverance, and an undying love for the game of football.

Born on February 14, 1997, in Chicago’s West Side, Raequan Williams grew up amid adversity. His childhood in neighborhoods like Lawndale and East Garfield Park was marked by violence, instability, and tragedy. He lost his cousin and later his brother to gun violence—experiences that would shape his worldview and resolve from a young age.

Despite these obstacles, Williams found purpose through sports. He attended DePaul College Prep (formerly Gordon Tech), where he excelled on both the football field and basketball court. His physical gifts—standing at 6-foot-4 with elite strength and mobility—quickly separated him from his peers. But it was his mindset, forged in adversity, that made him truly special.

As a senior, he earned first-team All-State honors, racking up 74 tackles, eight sacks, and three forced fumbles. He was a four-star recruit and ranked among the top defensive line prospects in the Midwest. Williams committed to Michigan State, choosing the Spartans over offers from Miami, Penn State, and Iowa.

Williams arrived at Michigan State in 2015 and redshirted his freshman year. From 2016 to 2019, he became a mainstay on the Spartans’ defensive front, starting 42 consecutive games and developing into one of the most dependable linemen in the Big Ten.

His breakout season came in 2017, when he recorded 33 tackles, six for loss, and 2.5 sacks. By his senior year, he had become the vocal and emotional leader of the defense, posting 48 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and five sacks in 13 games. Williams was named second-team All-Big Ten and received Michigan State’s Iron Man Award.

His reliability, toughness, and leadership drew attention from NFL scouts. Williams was widely regarded as a Day 3 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Yet, as the draft came and went, his name was never called.

Going undrafted didn’t deter Williams. He quickly signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as a free agent. That summer, in the heat of a pandemic-altered training camp, he impressed coaches with his work ethic and football IQ. He cracked the practice squad and eventually appeared in six games over two seasons, recording three tackles and two quarterback hits.

In 2021, he was waived by the Eagles and had brief stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Carolina Panthers. These opportunities were short-lived and relegated to practice squad roles, and by 2022, Williams found himself out of the NFL entirely.

Like many fringe players, he was stuck in the unforgiving limbo of pro football—too good to quit, not quite good enough to stick. As he entered his late 20s, most assumed his career was over.

But Raequan Williams didn’t believe in that ending.

When the Detroit Lions announced their list of rookie minicamp invitees in May 2025, Williams’ name was an unexpected inclusion. Rookie minicamps are typically filled with undrafted college players and first-year pros—not 28-year-old veterans. But Detroit saw something worth exploring.

For the Lions, who are in the midst of building a physical, aggressive defense under head coach Dan Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Williams’ skill set still holds appeal. He’s a space-eater with heavy hands, a high motor, and the versatility to play multiple spots on the defensive line.

Detroit’s interior defensive line depth is solid but not bulletproof. With Alim McNeill anchoring the front and veterans like DJ Reader and Levi Onwuzurike contributing, there is still room for a rotational player who brings experience, leadership, and physicality. If Williams can show that he still has gas in the tank—and prove he’s kept his body NFL-ready—he might just earn a contract.

Williams’ path to this moment wasn’t just physical. Since leaving the league, he’s remained involved in community work, focusing on at-risk youth in Chicago and Michigan. He’s mentored high school players, spoken at juvenile centers, and even helped run defensive line training camps.

“Football saved my life,” Williams once said in an interview. “Now it’s my turn to show that I can give something back to the game, and to the people who need a second chance, just like I did.”

That mindset is what makes his return more than a vanity play. Williams isn’t clinging to the NFL dream out of desperation; he’s pursuing it with the clarity and maturity of someone who has seen life from all sides.

If the Lions are serious about giving Williams a fair evaluation, they’ll look at more than his 40 time or pass-rush moves. They’ll consider the intangibles:

• Leadership: Williams was a multi-year leader at Michigan State and has life experience that many young players gravitate toward.
• Versatility: At 6-foot-4 and 305 pounds, he can play both 3-tech and 1-tech spots.
• Run Defense: His core strength and leverage make him effective at controlling double teams and clogging run lanes.
• Effort: Known as a relentless player, Williams always plays through the whistle and doesn’t take plays off.

In a culture-first organization like Detroit’s, those traits matter.

Still, the reality is stark: very few rookie minicamp tryout players ever make a roster. According to NFL data, fewer than 5% of tryout players receive contracts, and even fewer make the 53-man roster. Age is not on Williams’ side either.

But if there’s a franchise where such a story could unfold, it might just be the Lions. Under GM Brad Holmes, Detroit has taken chances on unconventional stories—from Khalil Dorsey’s special teams rise to Malcolm Rodriguez’s sixth-round stardom.

“We don’t care where you came from,” Holmes said recently. “We care what you do when you get here.”

That ethos gives Williams a legitimate shot.

Beyond his football attributes, Williams’ presence could enrich Detroit’s locker room. He’s someone who understands what it means to fight for everything, to fall out of the league, and to climb back. His story could resonate with rookies who are unsure of their future, and veterans who might take the league for granted.

It’s also a potential media story that aligns with Detroit’s gritty, blue-collar identity. The hometown angle—Williams played college ball in Michigan—only adds to the narrative.

But most importantly, Raequan Williams wants this for himself.

“I still love the game,” he told reporters during camp. “I don’t need the fame or the money. I just want to compete. I just want to be in a room with guys chasing the same dream.”

As the NFL continues its unrelenting march toward the 2025 season, Raequan Williams is not the headline. He’s not a high draft pick or a flashy free agent. But in the shadows of Detroit’s rookie minicamp, he’s something far more compelling: a man who refuses to let his dream die, even after the world moved on.

There’s a raw purity in that.

Whether Williams earns a contract or not, his presence is a testament to what football can offer—the promise of redemption, the power of perseverance, and the unshakable belief that one more opportunity is all it takes.

And if Raequan Williams does make this Lions roster?

It won’t just be a comeback. It’ll be a victory for every overlooked player, every undrafted dreamer, and every person who dared to start over when quitting would have been easier.