Heartbreakingly Great Names #25: Gizmo Williams

1989 Pro Set #535 Gizmo Williams

Real name: Henry Williams

Henry was given the nickname "Gizmo" from none other than all-time Packer great Reggie White when both he and Reggie were members of the USFL team, the Memphis Showboats, in 1985. Without doing any research, you might just think that Gizmo was one of countless NFL prospects that never really amounted to anything and just sort of faded into the background after playing one season with the Eagles in 1989. Instead you are looking at one of the all-time great Canadian football players, the holder of over 20 records in the CFL, and a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

Gizmo played with the Edmonton Eskimos from 1986-2000 [with one year with the Eagles in 1989] and was the best kick returner in the league. He holds the all-time record for punt and kickoff return yardage as well as the most kick return touchdowns [31]. He was also a part of the Eskimos team that won the Grey Cup in 1987 and 1993 and in 2006 he was elected to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

Comments

Captain Canuck said…
he was amazing. obviously, the rules and the field are drastically different in the CFL compared to the NFL, but Giz was awesome. I've never seen a guy with acceleration like that before or since.