The Kansas City Chiefs traded up 10 spots in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft to select cornerback California Nohl Williams.

During his last two seasons with the Golden Bears, Williams he recorded 105 total tackles, nine interceptions, 15 passes defensed, and two forced fumbles. That earned him the reputation of being a ball-hawk who covers defenders and tackles with physicality, which will fit him right into defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s system.

Fans who attend Chiefs game feed off the defense, and have made GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium the loudest sporting venue in the world. Opposing offenses have to account for the crowd noise when putting together their gameplans, and Kansas City’s defense thrives off the rowdy audience.

While speaking to the media ahead of Chiefs rookie minicamp on Saturday, Williams expressed his excitement of getting to play at Arrowhead.

“Having a stadium like Arrowhead, it’s one the loudest stadiums in the NFL, so just being on defense and having that juice behind you, I feel like it’s going to be a feeling like no other,” Williams said.

Although he grew up in California, Williams became a Chiefs fan during his youth when K.C. selected wide receiver De’Anthony Thomas in 2014.

“Early on, it was the San Diego (now Los Angeles) Chargers, then Kansas City,” Williams said about his favorite NFL teams growing up. “Because my favorite player was De’Anthony Thomas, and he got drafted here. And then that’s when I made the switch. I was just always tapped in with the Chiefs. I wouldn’t say like die hard, but I liked the Chiefs. That was my team. I watched them ever since the (former Chiefs quarterback) Alex Smith days. (WR) Dexter McCluster, (RB) Jamaal Charles, all those guys.”

Williams knows his Chiefs history, and now gets to suit up with the team he grew up rooting for. If he makes as many plays as K.C. hopes he will, Williams will give the Arrowhead faithful plenty to cheer about over the next several years.