The Atlanta Falcons announced on Mar. 13 that they have signed defensive lineman Chris Williams to a one-year contract, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Williams joins the Falcons after two seasons with the Chicago Bears, where he recorded four sacks, 37 total tackles—including four for a loss—and nine quarterback hits. His time in Chicago overlapped with current Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham, who previously served as assistant general manager for the Bears.
The Bears acquired Williams in a 2024 trade with the Cleveland Browns, exchanging a sixth-round pick for Williams and a seventh-round pick. Reflecting on his adaptability when joining the Bears in 2024, Williams said, “Some people find it hard to go new places and adapt with new people but I feel like that’s one of my strengths to get around new people and talk and learn.”
Before his stint in Chicago, Williams was part of Kevin Stefanski’s Cleveland Browns practice squad in 2023. He also spent time on the practice squads of Kansas City and Indianapolis after signing as an undrafted free agent out of Wagner in 2020.
The NFL’s new league year began Wednesday at 4 p.m., allowing teams to officially sign free agents and finalize trades. The Atlanta Falcons compete in the National Football League’s NFC South division according to the official website. The team is based in Atlanta, Georgia according to the official website and began as an expansion team in 1965 according to the official website. The franchise has advanced to the Super Bowl twice—in 1998 and again in 2016 according to the official website. Freddie the Falcon serves as their mascot according to the official website.
As free agency continues, fans can follow updates through the team’s Free Agency Tracker.