Honoring the Cage That Built a Champion

Tenafly resident John Williams proposes renaming the town’s iconic soccer field after his son, MLS player Sam Williams.

Only two percent of high school athletes reach the most elite tier of college athletics, NCAA Division 1, and fewer than two percent of all college athletes go on to play professionally in their sport. Now, consider Tenafly: a school district brimming with exceptionally skilled and driven young athletes, yet comparably smaller than even most regional rivals. How many pro athletes do you think Tenafly has sent to US major leagues? Just three.

However, just one out of that mass signed into a professional league and played in multiple matches at just nineteen years of age. Sam Williams, life-long Tenafly resident and student, currently plays for the Chicago Fire, a professional team in the highest division of soccer in the US and Canada: Major League Soccer (MLS). In March of 2025, Sam‘s homegrown player rights were bought by Chicago following a one-year contract he completed with Chicago’s reserve team. 

Inspired by Sam's journey, his father John is now working to honor the local space that played a pivotal role in his success. That same March, John started a movement to rebrand Tenafly’s iconic “Cage”, a local soccer pitch, in honor of its central part in Sam’s ascension to not just D1, but an MLS club. His proposal for the Tenafly Council reflects Sam’s journey and the Cage’s role in propelling him to the highest level of pro soccer in the nation at such a young age. 

From his time at the Red Bulls Academy, where he played until being offered a full-ride scholarship to UNC at the age of just seventeen, to his signing for Chicago just after his junior year in college, Sam’s journey has been nothing short of amazing. Like countless other young Tenafly athletes, Sam found the Cage an invaluable resource to sharpen his skills, train in a unique environment, and have fun with friends.

Moreover, it’s a central, accessible location to most of the town and a safe spot, due to its proximity to emergency services, for even younger athletes to practice in. It has served Tenafly and its younger population well, with Sam being just one example of its overwhelmingly positive returns. Placing a plaque, sign, or inscription nearby would be a testament to Sam’s hard work, determination, and persistence even in the face of great setbacks, such as his cutting from the Red Bulls Academy U-12 and U-13 teams.

A closeup shot of Tenafly "Cage, a popular local soccer pitch and a community cornerstone. Photographer: Achyut Manoj

John argues that renaming the Cage in honor of Sam would serve as both inspiration to future generations of aspiring young athletes and symbolize the Cage’s unique importance in the Tenafly community. 

After presenting his proposal to officially rename the Cage to “Sam’s House”, the borough Council stated that further discussion and collaboration with Tenafly United and the Department of Public Works. While his proposal met with enthusiasm at the August 28th Mayor and Council meeting, John's plan requires further development, a process that may extend into the next year.

His hope is that a request as seemingly simple as his, and with a seemingly unquestionable benefit to residents, will be physically enacted with swiftness. Although further public discussion hasn’t been made on it, John is determined to see his proposal through to completion.

Stay tuned for updates on this potential tribute to a remarkable journey, which, if approved, will honor a unique story right here in Tenafly.