Former NFL player Larry Williams, who served as the Athletic Director at the University of San Francisco, has died suddenly at age 62.
University officials said he collapsed during a morning workout at the school’s War Memorial Gym, and the cause of death remains undisclosed.
University President Salvador D. Aceves extended his condolences to Williams’ wife, Laura, their six children, and grandchildren, describing the loss as “deeply felt by the entire university community.” Williams joined USF in August 2022, where he led more than 250 student-athletes and staff with warmth, faith, and integrity.
Born in Orange, California, Williams enjoyed a seven-year NFL career as an offensive lineman with the Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints, and New England Patriots, playing 61 games between 1986 and 1992. While still in the league, he earned a law degree, later guiding athletics at Marquette University and the University of Portland.
Deeply devoted to his faith, Williams viewed his work at USF as “a vocation rooted in Catholic education.”
Friends and colleagues remember him as a leader who united sports, education, and spirituality — a legacy that continues to inspire.
