Former Auburn Tigers running back Carnell “Cadillac” Williams announced that he will be resigning as the running backs/assistant head coach Thursday.
In an article from the Montgomery Advisor, Williams expressed why he believed making the decision to resign was right for him.
“After taking time to pray and reflect, I have made the decision to resign from my position with Auburn football to pursue other opportunities,” Williams said in a statement. “I love Auburn, the players and AU family with all my heart, but this decision is what is best for me, my wife and sons.
“I am extremely grateful for the coaching opportunity given to me first by Coach (Gus) Malzahn and most recently by Coach (Hugh) Freeze. These past five years on the Plains have been nothing short of incredible. Auburn is and always will be a special part of my life. War Eagle!”
Williams is an icon among the Auburn fandom, and fans are upset to see him go.
Words can’t even begin to describe how much Cadillac Williams has meant to Auburn.
He’s the literal definition of greatness and will be missed so much.
He kept the light going when all you could see was darkness.
War Eagle Forever 🦅 @CoachCaddy24 pic.twitter.com/dG1Ub5wVYL
— Johnny (@jrptigers) January 12, 2024
No matter what anyone says, Cadillac Williams represents Auburn & will be missed.
WDE 🦅 @CoachCaddy24
— Jeremy (@SouthernFB1993) January 12, 2024
Cadillac Williams needs a raise and an extension. Our RB room is solid.
— David Ward (@borntobarn) November 25, 2023
Auburn Tigers former assistant coach Cadillac Williams was not hired by the current staff
Williams has remained a part of the Auburn staff through two coaching changes. He was initially hired by Gus Malzahn in 2019 after being a part of the Birmingham Iron in 2018, who are a part of the Alliance of American Football.
Williams then served as an assistant to Bryan Harsin after the Malzahn era. When Harsin was fired with four games left in the 2021 season, Williams served as the interim head coach for the Tigers. Williams went 2-2 and his only conference win was a 13-10 victory of the Texas A&M Aggies.
Williams has been a part of Hugh Freeze’s staff until his current resignation. Williams thanked Freeze in his statement of resignation, but rumors from Bama Hammer’s Ronald Evans said that Freeze wanted Williams to leave. In a Fly War Eagle article, Evans explains what he heard.
“Meanwhile from Auburn is a rumor that Hugh Freeze wants Cadillac Williams to leave,” Evans prefaced before saying, “The rumor includes some seedy accusations, not dissimilar to what was fabricated in an attempt to force Bryan Harsin to resign. Some Auburn fans, who have raved about Hugh Freeze, are having doubts.”
Freeze promoted Williams to the associate head coach position for what he did as the interim head coach. This increased Williams’ salary to $900,000. In the aforementioned Montgomery Advisor article, Freeze wished Williams well.
“We are incredibly appreciative of Carnell and what he’s done for the Auburn football program during his time on the coaching staff,” Freeze said. “He led Auburn through a time of transition and is one of the program’s all-time greats. I know this wasn’t easy for him, but I respect his decision and wish him nothing but the best.”
Williams’ rushing attack as the coach of the Tigers was the 23rd best in the country in 2023. The fourth best rushing attack in the SEC averaged 189 rushing yards per game.
Cadillac Williams was a legendary running back for the Auburn Tigers
Outside of Auburn legend Bo Jackson, Williams is widely considered to be the greatest running back in the school’s history. From 2001-2004, Williams had 3,831 yards rushing. This is the second-most rushing yards by any player in Auburn history.
Auburn Interim Head Coach Cadillac Williams played for the Tigers from 2001-2004. His most iconic moment as a player? Going 80-yards to the house on the first play of the Iron Bowl in 2003.
He will now look to provide some structure to a program left in smoldering ruins. pic.twitter.com/TbEpyUAGU9— Johnny Congdon (@congdonsation) October 31, 2022
Williams holds the all-time record for rushing touchdowns at Auburn with two more than Bo Jackson. Apart from Jackson, his 45 rushing touchdowns are 11 more than the next most at Auburn. Williams had two 1,000-yard rushing seasons at Auburn, and a staggering 17 rushing touchdowns in 2003.
2003 Auburn 37 Syracuse 31 3OT
Trailing Syracuse 34-31 in the third overtime and facing 3rd & 4, Cadillac Williams takes his 40th carry (!) around left end outracing the defenders to the corner of the end zone for a big Auburn win!
Cadillac finished w/ 202 yds on 40 att, & 2 TD pic.twitter.com/RwyVe7cnpU
— Power of Dixieland (@PwrofDixieland) August 11, 2023
Williams went on to play in the NFL from 2005-2011. He played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the St. Louis Rams, but his career was not what it could’ve been after suffering two devastating knee injuries in two years.
2005
2005 NFL Rookie of the Year Cadillac Williams got his career started with a bang. A 148 yard rushing performance that included this 71 yard game icing touchdown run in his first career start. pic.twitter.com/Q9oxErQlKC— Buccaneers Archive (@BucsArchive1976) April 27, 2022
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