Edward J. Withers (August 28, 1926 – April 17, 1975) was an American football player.

He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and moved to Madison, Wisconsin when he was a boy.

He was one of the first African-Americans to be a regular starter for the Badgers, playing at the defensive back position.

[1] He was selected by the Football Writers Association of America as a first-team defensive player on their 1950 College Football All-America Team.

[2][3][4] Withers later worked as a teacher and coach at Roosevelt and North Division High Schools in Milwaukee and subsequently as an insurance salesman.