For five seasons before joining the Calgary Stampeders, offensive lineman Garry Williams was a member of the Carolina Panthers.

Williams signed with the Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2009 and saw action in 41 games, including 21 starts, over a five-year period.

You might forgive the big man from Louisville, Ky., if seeing Carolina advance to the Super Bowl — the Panthers take on the Denver Broncos in Sunday’s big game — the very season after he departed the organization was a bittersweet feeling, but Williams says that’s hardly the case.

“Naw, there’s no mixed feelings,” says Williams, whose Carolina teammates in 2014 included fellow Stamps offensive lineman Derek Dennis. “It just happens that it’s happening this year for them. I was part of the organization for a long time — it’s a great organization.

OL Garry Williams with the NFL’s Carolina Panthers

“I wish I could be a part of it but I’m happy for them. They’ve come a long way and they’ve grown a lot. They look good and I believe they’re going to win.”

It was in 2011, Williams’ third season in Carolina, that Cam Newton was seclected first overall and, at the tender age of 22, immediately stepped into the starting quarterback position for the Panthers.

Predictably, Newton has some ups — 4,051 passing yards — and downs — 17 interceptions and a 6-10 record — that first season but in 2015, he developed into an MVP candidate.

“It took time for him to develop,” says Williams, who was one of the men encharged with protecting the star pivot. “He was young and it took him a little time but now he understands it and now he’s taken it and run with it.”

Williams is still close to several of his former Carolina teammates, especially offensive linemen Nate Chandler, Chris Scott and Trai Turner.

“Yeah, I still talk to those guys,” he says. “I’m happy for them and I’m still cheering for them.”

He also has fond memories of Ron Rivera, who became the Panthers’ head coach in 2011 and has guided Carolina to three consecutive NFC South Division titles.

“He’s a great coach,” offers Williams, “and he understands the game, especially from the player’s point of view and the coach’s point of view. And he’s taken them to the Super Bowl, so you can’t say enough about him.”

Rivera, a member of the Super Bowl Shuffle Chicago Bears championship team in 1985, is looking to join an exclusive club on Sunday.

“He’s a great guy,” says Williams, “and hopefully he gets a (Super Bowl) ring as a player and as a coach.”