MINNEAPOLIS -- Everybody knows Marcus Williams' name now -- which is a crying shame for the New Orleans Saints safety, whose stellar rookie season had mostly flown under the radar for the past four months.
Williams will forever be remembered as "that guy" who missed the tackle when Minnesota Vikings receiver Stefon Diggs busted loose for one of the most improbable touchdowns in NFL history on Sunday.
Williams became a trending topic on social media for all the wrong reasons. There were more than a few Bill Buckner references.
In some blatantly obvious hindsight, Williams should have gone high to contest the throw to Diggs or waited until he landed to make a proper tackle. He did neither, mistiming a dive at Diggs' legs and whiffing completely.
It was a bad decision on the kind of situational play that the Saints practice, and it's the kind of devastating mistake that could threaten the confidence of such a promising young player.
But if the first 16 games, 59 minutes and 50 seconds of Williams' career are any indication, he has a shot to become known as "that guy" who overcame it.
The Saints might not have been in position to win Sunday's game if Williams hadn't made a terrific leaping interception late in the third quarter -- his fifth pick of the season -- to set up a touchdown.
They might not have been in this game at all if he hadn't played so well as a second-round pick out of Utah who started all 15 regular-season games he played in, despite just turning 21 on Sept. 8.
Rookie cornerback Marshon Lattimore deservedly received most of the attention for New Orleans' remarkable turnaround on defense this season (Lattimore will probably win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year). But Williams was extremely valuable for a revitalized defense that ranked No. 3 in the NFL in passing yards allowed from Weeks 3-16 (and 15th overall for the season) after ranking 32nd last season.
Williams was a ball-hawking safety in college who had 10 interceptions over his final two seasons at Utah after making the switch from receiver to safety in high school. The Saints liked him enough (and needed him enough) to draft him ahead of Pro Bowl running back Alvin Kamara in Round 2, even though they coveted Kamara and wound up trading up to get him, too.
"Marcus is a great player. He's a young player, and he's got a bright future ahead of him. He's going to make more great plays than mistakes," Saints linebacker Manti Te'o said in perhaps the most passionate show of support for Williams -- but hardly the only one.
Former Saints safety Steve Gleason was among Williams' supporters on Twitter. There were a lot of cruel critics, as well. But countless Saints fans reached out to show support -- including at least one who brought a "Love You Marcus" sign out to greet the team at the airport when it landed back in New Orleans.
Marcus Williams had a spectacular rookie season, and could have a stellar career. He was trying to make the right decision and not interfere. As a competitor, I'm sure he's crushed. I invite Nola to be encouraging and supportive as well as we move on.
— Steve Gleason (@TeamGleason) January 15, 2018
-SG
Thanks to the #Saints fans that welcomed us home at 1 am at the airport! Your support means everything #LoveTheSaints pic.twitter.com/OHOtU91Nj7
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) January 15, 2018
"I'm just excited for the kid," Te'o said. "He's going to come back and get better. He's already ahead of his time as far as how to play safety, and now you add a lot of motivation to that. The sky is the limit for him. I'm glad he's my safety."
Te'o joined a chorus of teammates and coach Sean Payton in emphasizing that Williams was hardly the only one to blame and far from the only reason the Saints lost. Te'o said he should have made more tackles. Defensive end Cameron Jordan said he should have been a half-step quicker in bringing pressure on that play. Everyone knows the Saints blew it by falling behind 17-0 in the first place.
The one guy who wouldn't let Williams off the hook was Williams himself. He stood bravely but bleary-eyed in front of the media, wishing he had gone high to contest the ball and vowing to never let a play like this happen again -- and if it does, he added, "I shouldn't be playing."
Williams didn't fully explain why he went low, whether he was fearful of drawing a pass-interference penalty or hoping to separate Diggs from the ball before he landed. His best explanation was, "Man, the play happened how it happened. We all seen it. But you know, if the play happened different, I would just go attack the ball and make that play."