According to a report by Mike Gittens of The War Rapport, the Las Vegas Raiders are anticipated to hire Carnell “Cadillac” Williams, a former Auburn running back and assistant coach. Williams is expected to take on the role of running backs coach for the Raiders. This decision comes after the Raiders initially considered UCLA running backs coach DeShaun Foster for the position. However, Foster was ultimately promoted to head coach when Chip Kelly departed UCLA to become the offensive coordinator at Ohio State.
Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal also confirmed the news later in the day. In his new role as the running backs coach for the Raiders, Williams will be assuming the same position he held at Auburn University from 2019 to 2023.
Williams was initially hired as Auburn’s running backs coach by former head coach Gus Malzahn, and he continued in that role under subsequent head coaches Bryan Harsin and Hugh Freeze.
Following Freeze’s arrival at Auburn in November 2022, Williams was additionally appointed as the associate head coach, a higher-ranking position which he held throughout the 2023 season. However, on the evening of January 11, Williams announced his decision to resign from his position with Auburn football to pursue other opportunities. In a statement, he expressed his gratitude and explained that after prayer and reflection, he had chosen to explore new paths in his career.
“I have deep love for Auburn, the players, and the AU family, but I believe that this decision is in the best interest of myself, my wife, and my sons. I am incredibly grateful for the coaching opportunities that were given to me by Coach Malzahn and, more recently, by Coach Freeze. These past five years at Auburn have been absolutely amazing.”
One of the most memorable phases of Williams’ tenure as an Auburn coach came immediately after the dismissal of former head coach Bryan Harsin, who was let go with four games remaining in the 2022 regular season. During that time, Williams was entrusted with the responsibility of serving as the interim head coach and guiding the program.
In that interim role, Williams led the team to a 2-2 record, igniting a passionate revival that only someone with Auburn ties like him could orchestrate.
Prior to his coaching career, Williams had a successful stint as a running back at Auburn from 2001 to 2004. He had previously excelled at Etowah High School in Attalla before joining the Tigers. Throughout his four-year playing career at Auburn, Williams amassed over 3,800 rushing yards and scored 45 touchdowns. Notably, his 44th rushing touchdown broke the program record previously held by Bo Jackson for the most rushing touchdowns in a career.
Following his graduation from Auburn, Williams embarked on a successful NFL career that spanned seven seasons. The majority of his professional tenure was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who selected him as the fifth overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. In that same year, Williams was recognized as the Associated Press’ NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
During his time with the Buccaneers, Williams accumulated over 3,680 rushing yards and scored 20 touchdowns, playing for six seasons. Unfortunately, his career was marred by two knee injuries, which shortened two of his seasons. Williams concluded his professional journey with the St. Louis Rams, where he spent the 2011 season, amassing 361 rushing yards and a touchdown before deciding to retire from football.
