Willie Aaron Anderson is a former American football player who was an offensive tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He played college football for Auburn University. He was drafted by the Bengals 10th overall in the 1996 NFL Draft. A four-time Pro Bowler and three-time First-team All-Pro selection, Anderson played his first 12 seasons with the Bengals. In his 13 seasons in the NFL, Anderson faced nine of the top 11 all-time sack leaders; against those nine defenders, he only allowed one sack, which occurred during his rookie season in a match-up against Bruce Smith. Anderson only surrendered 16 sacks in his 13 year career and did not give up a sack between and. The 11 quarterback pressures he allowed in were the fourth fewest pressures allowed by an offensive tackle in a season between 2006 and 2019. Anderson has a son, Jair Hawkins-Anderson, who played college football at Georgia Tech. He trains offensive linemen from high school to the NFL at the Willie Anderson Lineman Academy.
College career
Anderson attended Auburn University, where he played for the Auburn Tigers football team from 1993 to 1995. He majored in marketing education.
Professional career
Cincinnati Bengals
Anderson was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round of the 1996 NFL Draft. He made Dr. Z's Sports Illustrated All-Pro team in 1999 and was a first alternate to the Pro Bowl in the 2001 and 2002 seasons. He was selected to represent the AFC in the 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 Pro Bowl. Anderson was a road-grading run blocker, helping Corey Dillon break two NFL rushing records: Jim Brown’s rookie single-game rushing record and Walter Payton’s single-game rushing record of 275 yards. He also helped Rudi Johnson break the Bengals single-season rushing record that still stands today. He started 116 consecutive games in a row from 1999 to 2007. In his rookie season, it was said that he was able to bench press 675 pounds. Anderson received a five-year, $30 million contract extension after the 1999 season, his fourth season. He also received a five-year, $32 million contract extension, with $20 million guaranteed, prior to the 2006 season, his eleventh season with the Bengals. In 2017, Anderson was named by the Bengals as one of their top 50 players to celebrate their 50th season.
Baltimore Ravens
Anderson was cut by the Bengals on August 30, 2008 after he refused to take a pay cut. He then signed a three-year, $11 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens. Anderson started 10 games for the Ravens, helping them reach the AFC Championship Game in coach John Harbaugh’s first season. On May 13, 2009, the Ravens placed him on the reserved-retired list. The Ravens asked Anderson to reconsider his retirement, but he retired after the 2008 season.
