The Dallas Cowboys splashed into the trade market pool at the deadline to acquire All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. They may have done so because of the personal connection Williams has with Dallas' new coaching staff.
By no means did new Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer fill out his coaching staff only with the mindset of leveraging their connections to potentially lead to easier player acquisitions. He hired guys with proven pedigrees at their discipline, and most of all, men that fit into his culture rooted in togetherness.
As it turns out, not only has Schottenheimer taken grasp of the Cowboys locker room - despite their topsy turvy 3-5-1 record on the field - the coach has also found out how his connections have led to contributing pieces on the roster.
There is no better example than Dallas trading for New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, who was previously coached by Cowboys D-line coach Aaron Whitecotton in the Big Apple. Solomon Thomas is another first-year Cowboy who follows that lineage.
Within that Dallas defensive line, players and coaches are still mourning the loss of second-year player Marshawn Kneeland from his tragic passing last week, but the motivation is there from Schottenheimer & Co. to move forward. For Williams, that can be a difficult spot to be in having not had a connection with Kneeland, but nonetheless, he's empowered to contribute for his coach and those he's began to work with.
"I'm super happy to be part of this defensive line group that's super loaded and super talented with Kenny Clark and [Osa Odighizuwa] and Dante Fowler and coach Aaron," Williams said at The Star this week. "It's unbelievable to go to work with those guys, and I'm looking forward to it."
Whitecotton also expressed anticipation for Williams, who now headlines a trio of interior lineman that earned a spot on "America's Team" thanks in part to Whitecotton's endorsement (Thomas and undrafted rookie Perrion Winfrey).
"I'm excited," "Coach Dub" said. "Obviously, [Williams and I] have a history together. It was a good history, and he's a phenomenal person, a phenomenal player and a hard worker. I was telling [Schottenheimer] he's probably the most humble and hardest working top-3 pick I've ever been around in my life. He just comes to work every single day with a hard hat mentality."
Williams has deployed that tenacity throughout his career, which includes three Pro Bowl nods and an All-Pro Second Team selection on the lowly Jets. Now with a team with slightly more chance at contention, Williams is bought into the mission.
"Whatever my job is to do, man," Williams said. "I think that's mostly the coach's job to figure out how that is going to happen. Like I said, they're two elite defensive tackles. …When it comes to the things that they both do, I know Kenny Clark very well. I studied his film like no other when he was at Green Bay in the 2-tech rushing he had."
On the Jets, Williams has shown his elite run-stopping ability by how he clogs up the middle of the line, often fielding double-teams by the opposing center and guards - which would open up lanes for Clark or Odighizuwa.
He's also built up a reputation of rushing the passer. In 2022 he broke out with 12 sacks, and while he's had to shuffle around at different positions as the Jets' best lineman, he's still been productive. This season, he sacked former teammate Aaron Rodgers on the very first play of the season, but that remains as his only QB takedown.
That is poised to change with his energy revamped under his former mentor Whitecotton.
"It's like riding a bike," Whitecotton laughed about his immediate rekindling with Williams. "I mean, we were split up for, what, eight months?"
If things go according to plan, Williams - who has multiple years remaining on his current contract - and Whitecotton could form a pairing that lasts a long, long time in Dallas.
And that "hard hat" mentality should be on full display in Williams' debut on "Monday Night Football" in Las Vegas.