Williams: I almost joined Chiefs before call with 49ers' Shanahan

Trent Williams came close to becoming the new starting left tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Instead, the eight-time Pro Bowler made one final call to the San Francisco 49ers, and the team responded with a six-year, $138-million deal, making him the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history.

Last Tuesday, on the final night of the NFL's legal tampering period, Williams went to dinner believing the Chiefs were ready to finalize their agreement. But he first needed to call 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan.

"I always told Kyle from Day 1, if I was going anywhere, I would call him first," Williams told reporters Tuesday, according to The Athletic's David Lombardi.

Williams spent the 2020 season with the 49ers after nine years with the Washington Football Team. In San Francisco, he reunited with Shanahan, with whom he shares a close relationship. Shanahan's father, Mike, drafted him in 2010.

"I was just like, 'Hey, man, we just need to hurry this up, if you get my drift,'" Williams added, per Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. "'Tell (49ers chief contract negotiator Paraag Marathe) ... whatever they need to do. Tell him to finish and hurry up and work something out. I'm kind of ready to go ahead and make my decision. I would like for everything to be on the table.'"

He continued: "I went back in and ate dinner, and by the time I literally had the keys from the valet and sat in the car, my agent was calling me and telling me the deal was done."

Williams reportedly eschewed overtures from Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes to return to the 49ers.

"Kyle is like family to me. His family is like family to me," Williams said, per Cam Inman of The Mercury News.

Williams added: "They didn't have to sell me. I already knew what this place has to offer."

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