Marquice Williams was hired as the Atlanta Falcons special teams coordinator on Jan. 21, 2021.
In 2022, Atlanta was one of two teams to have special teams units score multiple touchdowns during the season – a Lorenzo Carter scoop and score off of a blocked punt in Week 2 and a Cordarrelle Patterson 103-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in Week 11. Under Williams' guidance, the Falcons blocked multiple punts (Troy Andersen – Week 2; Richie Grant – Week 17) for the first time in a season since at least 2000. Ade Ogundeji also recorded his second-career blocked field goal in two seasons with Williams, blocking a Justin Tucker field goal in Baltimore in Week 16.
As successful as the punt and field goal rush units were in 2022, Atlanta's returners had a special season as well. Patterson's 103-yard kickoff return for a touchdown was the ninth of his career, setting a new NFL record for the most career kickoff return touchdowns in NFL history. Patterson would be named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 11. Additionally, second-year returner Avery Williams returned 18 punts for 292 yards and led the NFL with 16.2 yards per punt return in 2022 (min. 15 att.).
Atlanta kicker Younghoe Koo closed the 2022 season making 12-of-12 field goal attempts, including three from 50-plus, earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for December and January. In two seasons with Williams serving as special teams coordinator, Atlanta has had multiple NFC Special Teams Player of the Month honors.
Following the 2022 season, Atlanta's coaching staff was selected to coach the East team at the 2023 East/West Shrine Game in its first year with full coaching staffs from NFL teams. Williams represented the organization as the team's head coach.
In Williams' first season with Atlanta, Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo connected on 27-of-29 field goal attempts and all 30 of his PATs, and led the league with three game-winning field goals in the regular season. Atlanta's punter Thomas Morstead punted 22 times for 1,015 yards (46.1 avg., 41.0 net avg.), including 11 inside the 20-yard line. Morstead earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 12 at Jacksonville and NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for December. Atlanta's long snapper Josh Harris recorded a career-high seven special teams tackles, earned second-team AP All-Pro honors and was selected to his first-career Pro Bowl. Under Williams' tutelage, Falcons rookie Avery Williams returned 23 kickoffs for 490 yards (21.3 avg.), 20 punt returns for 153 yards (7.7 avg.) and totaled six special teams tackles, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Williams joined the Falcons after spending two seasons with the Detroit Lions where he served as an assistant special teams coach.
During that time, he helped Jamal Agnew total 1,237 yards on 45 kickoff returns – the fourth-most in the NFL – while averaging 27.5 yards per return and breaking a return 100 yards for a touchdown. Agnew tied for the league lead with two total return touchdowns in 2019. With Williams assistance, Matt Prater converted 47-of-59 field goal attempts, including 10-of-13 from 50-plus yards with a long kick of 59 yards.
In 2020, under Williams' tutelage, Lions punter Jack Fox recorded the highest gross average (49.1) and net average (44.8) in a punter's first season in NFL history. Additionally, Fox's 44.8 net average was the third highest in a single season in league history. The rookie punter became the first Lions punter to be named to the Pro Bowl since 1988 and earned AP second-team All-Pro honors.
Also in 2020, Lions kicker Matt Prater connected on his 59th-career made field goal of at least 50 yards, surpassing Sebastian Janikowski (58) for the most made field goals of 50-or-more yards in NFL history.
Prior to joining the Lions in 2019, he spent three seasons (2016-18) with the Los Angeles Chargers coaching staff. As a defensive assistant with the Chargers in 2018, Williams assisted the ninth-best defensive unit (333.7 yards per game) in the league and guided rookie safety Derwin James to his first-career Pro Bowl.
Williams began his coaching career in 2010 as the linebackers/assistant special teams coach at Winona State University before moving on to assistant coaching positions with Central Oklahoma (2011) and South Dakota (2012-15). In 2015, Williams participated in the NFL's Bill Walsh Minority Coaching Fellowship program with the Lions, where he served as a coaching intern for linebackers and special teams. Williams got his first opportunity with the Minority Coaching Fellowship with the Chicago Bears from 2013-14. He also served as the special teams coordinator for the East/West Shrine Game in 2017 and 2018.
A native of Fresno, Calif., Williams was a two-year starter at defensive back at Fresno City College before going on to play at the University of Mary (N.D.). He and his wife, Elizabeth, have four children.
