WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – When Rams running back Kyren Williams wasn't voted a team captain last season, he was "very upset." Williams' relentless positivity has been praised by coaches and players alike since he entered the league, but he wasn't given the leadership title in his third year with the team.

Naturally, he called his mom, who he shares a close bond with, to talk through that disappointment. So when he got the call from head coach Sean McVay last week telling him his teammates had chosen him as a 2025 captain, he did the same thing, this time so she could share in his joy.

"Just continuing to see her like that, it's not the whole reason why I do it, but it's most of the reason why I do it, man," Williams told theRams.com. "Just being able to see the smiles that my family gets off of my success is crazy, bro. Like, they made sure that I got here. They made sure that I'm the person that I am each and every single day... Sharing that good news with my mom, my dad, everybody, that's what it's all about."

Conversely, there was never a moment where Williams was upset that his contract negotiations hadn't been resolved throughout an offseason filled with continuous discussions. He ended up signing a three-year extension with the team after choosing to participate in all of training camp. But the idea that people believe in him, as his family always has, is more important than the wealth that comes with an NFL contract.

And while the extension may symbolize the organization's faith in him, Williams has always been more concerned with the people who go to battle by his side, whether it's on the football field or in the game of life.

"(Being named a captain) made more of an impact on my heart than probably the contract because to me that is the direct representation of who I am as a person every single day in the eyes of my teammates," Williams said.

Williams' captainship won't change the way he goes about his business. His consistent buoyancy is one of the characteristics that earned him that title. He wants to continue serving as the leader he's always been, without beating himself up as much as he has in the past.

Throughout his entire life, Williams has been his "own biggest critic" and "biggest enemy." When things haven't gone his way, he couldn't help but dwell on it. That can't happen now that he's an official team captain, and it's something he's worked on.

"All these plays are six seconds, and each play is different, so if you made a bad play, you gotta be able to move on so that you are ready for that (next) play if it's your number that gets called," Williams said. "... I just felt like that was a very immature mindset that I had my whole life. And then once I realized that, once I'm able to fix that, man, I feel like I've grown and evolved into a way and a man that, I'm ready for whatever comes my way."

That effort hasn't gone unnoticed by coaches.

"He epitomizes, as do a lot of our guys in our locker room, what we're looking for in Rams," McVay said. "I thought it was cool that he got recognized by his teammates. I think he's just continued to mature into the best version of himself while still maintaining the authenticity to who he is."

Added offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur: "Here he is with a fresh contract and the captain status, and it's all rightfully deserved. He's got great energy. His work ethic matches that energy. And he's a better person on top of all that. And he's been a productive player in this league."

Coming off a career-highs in rushing attempts (316), yards (1,299) and touchdowns (14), Williams is close to achieving his best self on the field. But he's just getting started in his personal life.

His new contract gives Williams financial freedom to support his family in new ways, and he's already started planning out that process. Taking care of his parents, giving money to his sisters each month for their bills and setting up 529 plans for his nieces and nephews to help them pay for college are all on his to-do list. Football, family and faith are his only concerns, and he's pouring everything he has into them.

"I just want to be able to continue to play football at a very high clip, continue to keep showing the world who I am and what I can do, and take care of my family," Williams said. "And give the most praise to the Lord that I can and follow his mission every single day. That's probably my biggest three concerns right now in life. And that's the only thing I see going forward."