He was replaced by the fellow former player (and fellow Gary, Indiana, native) Alex Karras. He was relieved of his duties at the beginning of the regular season, becoming the first MNF personality not to endure for an entire season. Williamson was used on a few pre-season broadcasts, but was quickly declared unsuitable by ABC. In 1974, Williamson was selected by the ABC television network as a commentator on Monday Night Football to replace Don Meredith, who had left to pursue an acting and broadcasting career at rival network NBC. Williamson starred alongside Peter Boyle and Eli Wallach in the movie Crazy Joe (1974). After this he appeared as an actor in several films, most of which are considered to be of the " blaxploitation" genre. Williamson also starred in the 1975 western film Boss Nigger, in which he played the title role. He played the role of an African-American gangster in the film Black Caesar (1973) and its subsequent sequel, Hell Up in Harlem (also 1973). He portrayed an escaped slave who flees westward in The Legend of Nigger Charley (1972). Williamson's early film work included roles in M*A*S*H (1970) and Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon (1970). In an interview for the DVD of Bronx Warriors, Williamson stated that his role in Julia was created for him when he convinced the producers that the Black community was upset that Julia had a different boyfriend every week. He also played Diahann Carroll's love interest in the sitcom Julia. Williamson's early television roles included a role in the original Star Trek episode " The Cloud Minders" (1969), in which he played Anka. In October 1973, Williamson posed nude for Playgirl magazine, preempting Brown's appearance in 1974. Williamson also guest starred with Brown in various television roles. He acted alongside Brown in films such as Three the Hard Way (1974), Take a Hard Ride (1975), One Down, Two to Go (1982), Original Gangstas (1996) and On the Edge (2002). Williamson became an actor much in the mold of star running back Jim Brown. Williamson at the Festival de Cine de Sitges, October 2008. After signing with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League during the 1968 season, but not having played in a league game, Williamson retired. Williamson returned his interceptions for 479 yards and two touchdowns. Williamson finished his eight-season pro football career in 1967 with a history of many hard tackles, passes knocked away, and 36 pass interceptions in 104 games. Williamson later suffered a broken arm from his own teammate when Chiefs linebacker Sherrill Headrick fell on him. Williamson's head met the knee of the Packers' running back Donny Anderson. His prediction turned out to be an ironic one because "they (Green Bay) broke the hammer" as Williamson himself was knocked out of the game in the fourth quarter on the way to a 35–10 defeat. He stated "Two hammers to Dowler, one to Dale should be enough". Before Super Bowl I, Williamson garnered national headlines by boasting that he would knock the Green Bay Packers starting receivers, Carroll Dale and Boyd Dowler, out of the game. ![]() During his period of playing for the Chiefs, Williamson became one of football's first self-promoters, nurturing the nickname "The Hammer" because he used his forearm to deliver karate-style blows to the heads of opposing players, especially wide receivers. He also played three seasons for the AFL's Kansas City Chiefs. Williamson played four seasons for the AFL's Oakland Raiders, making the AFL All-Star team in 1961, 1962, and 1963. Next, he moved to the new American Football League. Williamson played one year for the Steelers in the National Football League in 1960. Thus, "The Hammer" quickly stuck and became his nickname. ![]() When during training camp he was switched to their defense, his attitude over the switch prompted him to play his position with too much aggression, and the coach of the 49ers asked him to quit "hammering" his players. Career Football Īfter playing college football for Northwestern in the late 1950s, Williamson was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Pittsburgh Steelers. After high school, Williamson left Gary for Evanston, Illinois to attend Northwestern University on a football scholarship. Williamson attended Froebel High School, where he ran track and played football. Williamson also had other notable roles in other 1970s blaxploitation films such as Hammer (1972), That Man Bolt (1973) and Three the Hard Way (1974).īorn in Gary, Indiana, Williamson was the oldest child born to Frank, a welder and Lydia Williamson. Williamson is perhaps best known for his film career, starring as Tommy Gibbs in the 1973 crime drama film Black Caesar and its sequel Hell Up in Harlem. Frederick Robert Williamson (born March 5, 1938), also known as The Hammer, is an American actor and former professional American football defensive back who played mainly in the American Football League during the 1960s.
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