Dorian Williams (born June 28, 2001) is an American professional football linebacker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tulane Green Wave.
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Early life
Williams attended Indian Land High School in Indian Land, South Carolina. He committed to Tulane University to play college football.
College career
Williams played at Tulane from 2019 to 2022. As a senior, he had 132 tackles, five sacks and two interceptions. For his career, he had 316 tackles, 9.5 sacks and two interceptions. He was named the defensive MVP of the 2023 Cotton Bowl Classic (January) after recording 17 tackles.
Professional career
Williams was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the third round, 91st overall, of the 2023 NFL draft.
Following a rookie season in which he was primarily a backup, Williams was thrust into the starting lineup following a preseason injury to Matt Milano leading up to the 2024 season. Williams started 11 of 17 games he played in that season, accruing a team-leading 117 total tackles, including 5 for a loss, as well as 1 forced fumble and three fumble recoveries. Following Milano's return, Williams continued to be used heavily in three linebacker formations against the run despite Buffalo traditionally utilizing a nickel defense under head coach Sean McDermott.
Williams missed his first professional game due to injury against the New England Patriots in 2025, and Buffalo suffered its first loss of the season without him in the lineup. He later made a key play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, recovering a forced fumble that sealed Buffalo's 44–32 win. Williams recorded an 82.5 rating from Pro Football Focus against the Buccaneers, the second highest among Bills defensive players that game.
In 2026, Williams recorded his first career interception off of Kirk Cousins in a week 6 win against the Las Vegas Raiders.