Jameson Williams’ father speaks on son’s media scrutiny: ‘He signed up for this’

Aug 06, 2023

James Williams, father of Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams, directing families to their correct waiting areas ahead of Jameson's inaugural football camp at Chandler Park Academy

HARPER WOODS, Mich. — Jameson Williams has been under fire in recent months for a number of off-field incidents.

The Detroit Lions wide receiver was suspended for six games by the NFL for violating the league’s gambling rules. He was also caught on social media videos frequenting a coney island at night in one of Detroit’s toughest neighborhoods and lighting a fuse box with fireworks. These incidents have led to criticism from fans and pundits, who question Williams’ maturity and judgment.

However, the 6-foot-2 wideout seems to be taking it all in stride.

On Saturday, Williams’ father, James, his mother Tianna and a host of family and friends were all on hand at Chandler Parker Academy to assist with the setup of his inaugural football and skills camp, despite the rainy and stormy conditions. Before the camp officially kicked off, the elder Williams spoke with MLive regarding the scrutiny his son has faced over the past few months.

“Honestly, he signed up for this,” James Williams told MLive. “You know, what comes with great praise, it’s going to come with greater criticism. And that just goes along with the game. You know, not everybody’s going to love you. Not everybody’s going to hate you. So, I mean, we’re not really tripping off of that.”

“I mean, the media’s going to be the media. The media has to do their job and that’s understandable. So it’s gotta be something good (or) It’s gotta be something bad.”

The elder Williams’ comments reflect the maturity and poise that he feels his son has displayed in recent months. Williams has taken responsibility for his actions and is committed to learning from his mistakes. He is also focused on his football career and is eager to prove himself to his critics. When asked if he thought his son was fazed by the criticism, James initially said “No.” Then he quickly retracted, acknowledging that the recent events have lit a fire under his Jameson.

“I lied,” James said while laughing. “And you gonna see it in his play.”

As mentioned, Williams was subject to scrutiny after a video surfaced of him visiting L.George’s Coney Island on W. McNichols (Six Mile) and Schaefer, a popular food establishment on Detroit’s West Side. The neighborhood in which the establishment is located happens to be one of Detroit’s toughest areas, which was cause for concern for fans and pundits. Williams himself acknowledged to young athletes attending his football camp that he also comes from a rough neighborhood in St. Louis, Missouri. So it was not a surprise to James that his son was at the coney island during the late hours of the night.

“A lot of people probably won’t understand that part of him,” James said. “Like in order for him to be at his ultimate greatness, he has to feel ultra comfortable and it has to feel like home. That way, he don’t have nothing else to think about but football.”

Despite the coverage of his son’s actions, James said that he and his family feel the love from Detroiters, as they’ve been embraced by many with open arms.

“Honestly, it feels like home,” James said.”

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