James Williams (cornerback)

James Earl "J.D." Williams (born March 30, 1967) is an American football coach and former cornerback who is the cornerbacks coach for the Fresno State Bulldogs. He played college football at Fresno State and was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 1990 NFL Draft. Williams played in six NFL seasons, from 1990 to 1994 and 1996 for the Bills, Arizona Cardinals, and San Francisco 49ers.

Williams was most notable for being the first player on the Buffalo Bills squad to don number 31, which had been "retired" to represent the spirit of the franchise. Since Williams wore the number, the Bills have allowed anyone to wear the 31 jersey; it was later worn by Dwayne Wright, who like Williams, went to Fresno State. Jairus Byrd wore the number before becoming a free agent; he used it because his college number, 32, was unofficially retired because of O. J. Simpson.

After retiring from football, Williams became a football coach beginning in 1997 as a graduate assistant at Fresno State.