How 2 kids with ties to Fort Worth’s Como neighborhood made it to Super Bowl LX
.png "Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (left), who went to Fort Worth Arlington Heights, and Patriots defensive lineman Milton Williams, who went to Crowley, will face off Sunday in Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, Calif.")
On Super Bowl Sunday, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen and New England Patriots defensive lineman Milton Williams will take the field at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
They both made it to the grandest stage in sports. For Williams, it’s a consecutive appearance; he won the 2025 Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Although both Woolen and Williams will be donning separate colors as they face off, they have a lot in common.
Both have ties to Fort Worth’s Como neighborhood, spending time at the Como Community Center growing up, according to friends and family.
Woolen went to Fort Worth Arlington Heights, while Williams went to Crowley, a school just 19 miles away. Both were in the class of 2017.
And eventually, those two kids with Como roots created careers that reflected themselves and their community on a national level.
“I’m blessed,” Williams told reporters ahead of the Super Bowl. “God has been good to me my entire career. ... I didn’t even dream of playing in the Super Bowl once, let alone winning and having the opportunity to win back-to-back. I’m just grateful for the opportunity to go out there and try and get another one.”
Milton Williams finds his way to defensive line stardom
When Williams first got to Crowley High School, he wanted to play QB. He was certainly talented enough.
At the high school level, the best athletes in the area often think they’re destined for offense. Chris James, Crowley’s head coach at the time, saw Williams’ long, wiry frame and knew his potential in the trenches.
James said he promised Williams’ father he would go to college as a defensive line recruit, and he kept his word. At the time, he was just a two-star prospect, and big-name schools weren’t looking at him.
“We didn’t get a ton of recruiting opportunities in 2015 and 2016 in Crowley,” James said. “Milton was not a big kid. He was skinny. That’s why his recruiting numbers were what it was.”
Williams was quiet, according to James. He said he didn’t have many conversations with him, but that his actions spoke volumes.
“But you knew, when he put the helmet on, stuff was going to happen,” James said. “Violent things. And it was fun to watch.”
Williams won district defensive MVP honors, and Louisiana Tech took a chance on him. Things worked out. He played three years there, making 19 tackles for loss, and was drafted in the third round by the Eagles in 2021.
After his rookie deal expired, he entered free agency having helped the Eagles win the Super Bowl. He signed a $104 million contract, including a $24 million signing bonus and $51 million in guaranteed money, with the Patriots.
James said wasn’t surprised that Williams made a name for himself, citing his work ethic. He said he is still amazed at his monumental success and called him the best player he’s coached in his career.
“The more, and more and more I play, the more people see how I play and the more respect I get,” Williams said. “I’m trying to show every time I get on the field that the Patriots picked the right guy, No. 1, but everyone else that overlooked me and said I couldn’t do it, said I couldn’t do this, I want to hear what you have to say now.
“If I’ve got a ring, I don’t care what anyone says.”
Williams would become the fifth player in league history to win back-to-back Super Bowl titles with different teams if the Seahawks are victorious. He’ll join an elite company that includes Deion Sanders, Ken Norton Jr., LeGarrette Blount and Chris Long.
Riq Woolen: From basketball to cornerback prodigy
When Woolen was in high school (going by Tariq), he was more of a basketball kid who could jump out of the gym, according to former Arlington Heights football coach Phil Young. He also ran track.
In general, Woolen was an all-around stellar athlete.
“We tried to get him to play defensive back,” Young said. “But he said, ‘I want to be a receiver.’”
Woolen still thrived in that role. As a senior, he made 31 catches for 536 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Elite speed was his main tool, and his athleticism was evident.
“When he did get it in his hands, he’s hard to get ahold of,” Young said. “We manufactured stuff for him. … Whatever we got to do, we’re getting the ball to Tariq.”
His work ethic throughout high school was advanced. He would stay after basketball practice to do track workouts, just to stay in track shape for the upcoming season, Young said.
At the time, it wasn’t obvious to Woolen that his future was in football. He wanted to play basketball and was hoping to be recruited to play at the next level.
Young said he knew that Woolen was much better off committing to football.
Woolen was a great high school basketball player, but didn’t have the tools to draw Division I interest, Young said.
“Tariq Woolen was sold on being a basketball scholarship guy,” Young reminisced. “But in the football world, he could make money one day.”
Young said he had Woolen’s best interests at heart and gave him a much-needed reality check. Young had Woolen in his office and was about to call his brother, Greg Young.
At the time, Greg was an assistant basketball coach at UT Arlington. Even before the call, Young knew what was about to happen.
On speakerphone, he asked his brother if Woolen was on their recruiting list. He responded, saying he wasn’t on anyone’s radar.
“I had Tariq hear it on purpose,” Young said. “… I said, ‘If you trust us in football, you have a real chance and an opportunity to make some money. And to have some fun at high levels of football.’”
Pretty quickly after that, his mindset switched. As a three-star recruit, he committed to UTSA, switched to cornerback and thrived. He was selected in the fifth round by Seattle in 2022.
He has 12 interceptions since 2022, which ranks 10th in the NFL, and he made the Pro Bowl as a rookie. In 2022, ESPN called him the best Seattle cornerback since Richard Sherman, a five-time Pro Bowl selection.
“You don’t want to crush their dreams, but you have to show them reality sometimes,” Young said. “… He needs to take this football thing as far as it will go.”
In the offseason, Woolen’s rookie contract will expire, and he’ll be an unrestricted free agent with the potential to land a sizable deal.
He told NFL Network what he is chasing on Sunday:
“Not making this game bigger than what it is,” Woolen said. “We’ve been in playoff-type games and championship-type setting games this whole season. So, just making this whole week seem normal is one way we are going to have an edge.”
Love from the Como community
Young mentioned that Woolen’s family and the neighborhood of Como played a huge role in his development as a kid.
“These are the best people ever,” Young said. “These people are so caring and giving. And they love the community of Como. … Tariq was raised so well by his parents. He worked hard and always showed up.”
Brenetta Ashley, Woolen’s aunt, said his sports journey started on the Como Little League fields. She recalled him getting his start with the Como Lions, and is now “ecstatic” that he has made it to football’s grandest stage.
“We are ecstatic,” Ashley said. “We’re happy for him. And we’re really overjoyed and just feel really blessed that he has this opportunity.”
Ashley and Young knew Woolen before he was a Super Bowl contender. As a kid, he was a fun-loving, goofy, jokester who had a knack for making people smile and laugh.
Ashley said the Como Community Center played a big role in Woolen’s development, saying it is a big aspect of everyone’s childhood in Como.
“They help build positivity in the community,” Ashley said. “... Como has always been a community of family.”
And that community of family is showing lots of love to Woolen and Williams, who also has strong ties to the Fort Worth community
On Saturday, Como residents came together at the community center, donning Patriots and Seahawks gear to show their support. They showed their spirit, prayed for the athletes safety and even released a hoodie celebrating their Como Lion roots.
And regardless of what happens on Sunday, Como will have a winner to celebrate.
This story was originally published February 6, 2026 at 12:33 PM.
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