Pro football player, broadcaster, entrepreneur, author—Brandon Williams isn’t afraid to take on a challenge. The former NFL player has found success on and off the field, and now, he’s using that experience to inspire and support the next generation of St. Louisans. Williams has taken the helm at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis as the nonprofit’s new president and CEO.
growing up in st. louis …
I loved the community. I was able to connect with a lot of people, and there were so many opportunities to play sports, whether it was football or running track. It’s a great place to grow up. You have everything from the science center to the zoo to the art museum, and when I was kid, I loved getting to go to Cardinals and Rams games. My time in St. Louis as a kid was a lot of fun.
my connection to the BGCSTL …
I am a Mathews-Dickey Club kid myself. The experience allowed me to have several African American men as mentors, coaches and leaders. I’ve met influential people all over the country, but getting to see people from my own community is always impactful. Now, my peers who I meet through BGCSTL are adults, and many of us are back in St. Louis. It’s our turn to use our expertise to build St. Louis and keep it moving forward.
a one-of-a-kind experience …
When the Rams first came to St. Louis, they had some practices at Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club. For a 10-year-old, seeing those NFL players walking around the same field you played on was amazing.
entering the nfl …
Growing up, one of my favorite teams was the 49ers. It was like a dream to be drafted by the team I loved and get to meet legendary players like Joe Montana and Jerry Rice. I feel blessed to get to be part of that small fraternity of football players who get to play in the NFL. It was an amazing experience, and I made lifelong friendships.
football taught me …
Football is the ultimate team sport—the Super Bowl recently showed us that. Teamwork and camaraderie are things I learned early playing sports. Playing with others inspired me to work harder and raise my level of competition. To succeed in football, the team has to be on the same page. You have to study together and have the same systems, even at the high school level. From a business perspective, the game taught me how important it is to research your competition. These are traits and skills you can carry through your entire life.
after the nfl …
Broadcasting was a highlight. I worked for ESPN, the Big 10 Network and Fox 2. I got to interview a lot of different people. Regis Philbin was a fun interview—he was a huge Notre Dame fan. I experienced some very cool things in that time.
transitioning to business …
My brother, who also played in the NFL, and I started a company. We raised around $1.1 million. It was very exciting to be in the venture capital space and find success. I also worked for Anheuser-Busch. Growing up in St. Louis, you definitely know about it, but you never expect to work there. It was a great opportunity, and I built some strong relationships.
why the stl …
My last year in the NFL was with the Pittsburgh Steelers. I came back to St. Louis to figure out what I wanted to do because my roots were here. I moved to Wisconsin in 2015, but I came back to St. Louis in 2019. There is no place I would rather continue growing my family.
taking on BGCSTL …
I didn’t necessarily plan on moving into the nonprofit sector. I was looking for an opportunity to make an impact. When I started the process of applying for BGCSTL, I started asking friends and colleagues about what it meant to be the leader of the organization. The answer: The most important and impactful position for youth in St. Louis. That was something I really wanted to sink my teeth into. I grew up in the Mathews-Dickey Club so I knew the impact it could have. I have children between the ages of 7 and 17, so I can relate to parents and the youth. My predecessor, Flint Fowler, did an incredible job leading BGCSTL, and I’m looking forward to building on that legacy.
my goals for BGCSTL …
Our main mission is to create greater futures for the youth of St. Louis by helping them reach their potential and providing a safe environment. I want to expose more people to the work we do, so they can understand the impact we have on almost every aspect of life for young people—from sports and entertainment to school and workforce development. When you partner with BGCSTL, you’re investing in the future leadership of St. Louis.
Photo: Bill Barrett
