Antonio Gibson just made his debut at the New England Patriots training camp after signing with the team earlier this off-season. With 2,643 yards and 22 touchdowns under his belt, the Patriots’ new RB is gearing up for his fourth season on the gridiron. From playing for an Eagle Landing High School in Georgia to banking out an $11M multi-year contract with the Pats, things were never easy for the All-purpose back.

And navigating uncharted waters alongside him was his rock-solid support—his mother, Annette Williams. But what do we know about the powerhouse donna behind Gibson’s rise? Huddle up, and let’s find out.

The woman behind Antonio Gibson

Annette Williams was just 21 when she welcomed Antonio Gibson into the world. As a single mom, she raised Gibson and his younger sister, Danielle Moore, battling financial and emotional hardships along the way. Yet, Williams remained steadfast in her belief of her son’s athletic prowess, encouraging Gibson to dabble in various sports. In high school, Gibson shone in track and field, basketball, and of course, football. Never one to back off from talking about his momma, Gibson often notes that she has been his beacon of hope during tough times.

Such as when he lost his beloved high school coach Joe Teknipp, to stomach cancer. “[Teknipp] always made him feel positive and confident that he could play at the next level,” Williams recalls Teknipp’s influence on Gibson’s trajectory as an athlete. Or when he struggled to find his footing at the University of Memphis where the difficulty came from learning coach Mike Norvell’s playbook.

Yet, fate had a different plan, Williams could only cheer for her son from a local Applebees due to COVID-19 protocols as Gibson made his NFL Debut with the now-Washington Commanders. It was not the end of it all, the very next week she & her daughter witnessed the fruition of her relentless spirit and dreams. When she saw her son stepping on the gridiron, LIVE!  for the first time. Williams had 2 words to surmise how it felt to watch her son play an NFL game in person as, – ‘It’s surreal.’

Annette Williams – A game-changer

A former athlete herself, Annette Williams knows a thing or two about competitive spirit. A powerhouse on the softball diamond, volleyball court, and basketball court. She’s quick to point out that Antonio Gibson’s fierce drive might just be a chip off the old block. “We’ve always told him to suck it up, there’s a lot of game left to play.” But the mantra Gibson holds closest to his heart- “When you get that chance and get out there, that’s your chance to take somebody’s spot.”

Away from the gridiron, RB’s Mom has witnessed her son’s evolution firsthand. At his home, where he lives with his girlfriend and their daughter, she sees a different side of him. “[When he was younger], he’d hang out with the guys whenever he came into town. But now, he’s staying home more with the kids. He plays, comes home, and is fully in daddy mode. He’s just maturing as a man. I can see it.”

From his standout days as a special teams dynamo in high school to becoming one of the NFL’s top running backs, Gibson has paid his dues to be where he is now. Still very much her son’s cheerleader numero uno, the super momma says, “I’ve always told Antonio that with hard work and dedication, he can achieve anything he sets his mind to. Watching him succeed is the greatest reward.”