Gerard Williams, a defensive back who played five seasons in the National Football League, has died. He was 73.

Williams’ death was confirmed on social media via several college and high school classmates from Oklahoma.

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Williams appeared in 68 NFL games, making 31 starts, with the Washington Redskins (1976-78), San Francisco 49ers (1979-80) and St. Louis Cardinals (1980).

Williams played college football at Langston University, where he lined up at both wide receiver and defensive back. He was teammates there with Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson, and the two later shared a roster in San Francisco. At Langston, Williams set a school record with 204 interception return yards in a season, including a 100-yard return for a touchdown. He also earned all-conference honors in the Red River Conference.

Williams was inducted into the Langston University Hall of Fame in 2014.

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Williams’ path to the NFL included a stop in the World Football League, where he spent two seasons with Birmingham after signing with the Dallas Cowboys as a free agent in 1974 and failing to make head coach Tom Landry’s roster.

In Birmingham, Williams intercepted seven passes in 18 games. As a rookie, he led the WFL with two interception returns for touchdowns. Williams returned for a second season in 1975 after his tryout with the Rams did not lead to a regular-season appearance in Los Angeles.

When the WFL folded, Williams joined Washington in 1976. He played all 14 games that season, contributing primarily on special teams while serving as a reserve at both cornerback spots.

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Williams’ role grew over the next two years in D.C. He started 16 games combined in 1977 and 1978, recording four interceptions in each season and recovering three fumbles.

Williams signed with San Francisco in 1979, future Hall of Famer Bill Walsh’s first season as the 49ers’ head coach. He started 14 of 15 games on a team that finished 2-14, totaling four interceptions and three fumble recoveries.

Williams split the 1980 season between San Francisco and St. Louis, appearing in nine games before retiring. He finished his NFL career with 13 interceptions.