Leonard Williams Parents

Leonard Austin Williams is an American football defensive end for the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL. The New York Jets selected him as the 6th overall pick in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Williams climbed to stardom as soon as he joined the league and was awarded a place in the 2015 PFWA All-Rookie Team. Throughout his NFL career, Williams has showcased his skills with three teams: the New York Jets, the New York Giants, and the Seattle Seahawks (as of 2024). At the end of the 2023 season, he recorded 511 tackles, 43.5 sacks, and 1 interception.

Leonard Williams began his college career and played for the University of Southern California between 2012 and 2014. In his career with the USC Trojans, he played in and made a total of 218 tackles, 20 sacks and 2 interceptions. His performances in college earned him the AFCA and ESPN All-American honors in 2014. Standing as a young football talent, Williams started his high school football playing days at Mainland High School in Daytona Beach; Florida. He grew up in Bakersfield, California, and honed his affinity and athletic pursuits during high school to progress on to college and the NFL.

Who are Leonard Williams' parents?

Clenon Williams (father) and Aviva Russek (mother) are the parents of Leonard Williams.

Leonard Williams' Father

Clenon Williams' relationship with his son took a challenging turn when Clenon was sentenced to a decade in a Florida prison. This separation occurred when Leonard was just 14 years old, coinciding with the start of Leonard's football journey in high school. After serving his sentence at Marion Work Camp for multiple offenses, Clenon was released in November 2018. This led to an emotional reunion between father and son after 10 years when Leonard was playing a game in 2018. (via the New York Jets official website)

Leonard Williams' Mother

Leonard often speaks about Aviva Russek's dedication, describing how she worked long hours every day to care for him and his four siblings. He recalls how seeing his mother manage to take care of five children on her own motivated him to push through his own challenges, such as early morning workouts and school commitments. (via the New York Jets official website)