He played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins (1954, 1956-1957), Pittsburgh Steelers (1957), and the Philadelphia Eagles (1958).
[1] He spent several years in California as a child while his mother worked as a cartoonist for Disney Productions.
In the 1954 Rose Bowl, he led Michigan State to a comeback from a 14-7 halftime deficit, leading a third-quarter touchdown drive and scoring the game's final points on a 62-yard punt return.
[1] After the 1954 season, he was chosen to play in the Pro Bowl,[1] was also named the Redskins' outstanding player for 1954,[4] and finished second in voting for NFL rookie of the year.
In 1961, Wells formed a Dixieland band called Billy and His Bachelors that played at Southern California functions.
[8] He also acted in a few television shows, including episodes of Manhunt and Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
[7] He also owned William Wells Productions, a film company that produced movies, including "The Outlaw Legacy" starring Rory Calhoun and Marty Robbins.