There will always be love between Jamaal Williams and Detroit.
Though he and the Lions parted ways in free agency after the team chose to sign running back David Montgomery instead, Williams bid Detroit a heartfelt farewell Wednesday after signing a reported three-year, $12 million deal with the Saints.
"I just wanna say thank you to all the Detroit fans and everybody a part of the hidden village of the den," Williams said via Twitter. "I’ve grown a lot just from those two years and I appreciate every experience I had with every person I came to encounter while I was there."
Williams will be remembered fondly in Detroit, where last season he became the Lions' first 1,000-yard rusher in nearly a decade and broke a franchise record previously held by Barry Sanders with 17 rushing touchdowns.
More than that, Williams was a bright light in Allen Park during the dark days of the Lions' rebuild under Dan Campbell and GM Brad Holmes. He gave a now-famous speech in training camp last season imploring the Lions to leave their past behind them. Former assistant head coach Duce Staley later called him "our team leader." Offensive lineman Taylor Decker, Detroit's longest-tenured player, called him "one of the best teammates I've ever had in my life."
"You start talking about the definition of leadership, it’s all about actions," said Staley. "In vulnerable times, he’s sharing stories in front of the group. I’ve seen him shed tears in front of the group. I’ve seen him laugh, joke around, have fun in front of the group. I see him when he’s having a good practice and someone else is not, walk over there and put an arm around his shoulder and talk to him."
"Incredible person," said Decker. "Genuinely cares for and loves his teammates, and we love him."
Williams, who will be 28 next season, had hoped to return to the Lions, and made that clear ahead of free agency. Just last month he said, "We takin' the North."
"I just like the unity, the loyalty, the pride of being a Lion," Williams said. "No matter what the Lions have been in the past or what they’ve been through, they come with that new energy ever year. At the same time, we’re putting in the work and we’re showing people this is a team to be reckoned with."
But Holmes and the Lions opted to go younger and arguably more athletic at running back, signing Montgomery to a three-year, $18 million deal. He'll be 26 next season.
The Lions are set to visit the Saints in 2023. It'll be nothing but love in NOLA when they see their old teammate.