Linebacker Quincy Williams’ future with the New York Jets has been trending toward a divorce for months, and as free agency approaches, insiders continue to frame his situation as one of the more complicated ones the Jets are dealing with this offseason.
According to Jets beat reporter Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic, the former star’s relationship inside the building shifted dramatically over the last two seasons, both in terms of performance and his relationship with the new defensive staff.
“Williams was an All-Pro in 2023 and the best example of the way the previous Jets staff was able to develop talent on defense. He took a slight step back in 2024 — and then a big step back in 2025. At one point, Williams was benched and pulled from the starting lineup, though that didn’t last long. PFF had him ranked 69th of 78 linebackers to play at least 500 snaps, and he had a missed tackle rate of 15.7 percent while allowing five touchdowns in coverage.
“Williams didn’t get along with the Jets’ new coaching staff — namely defensive coordinator Steve Wilks and linebackers coach Aaron Curry — and, according to a team source, told people late last season that he was preparing as if these were his final games with the Jets. A change of scenery could be good for him, especially if he lands back with Robert Saleh (Tennessee Titans) or Jeff Ulbrich (Atlanta Falcons). Spotrac calculates his market value at $9.2 million per season, though that feels a bit high considering his 2025 performance,” he wrote.
Williams was once one of the better players on the Jets' defense under Robert Saleh, so him going back to play with Saleh and his new team in the Tennessee Titans makes a lot of sense.
Performance, however, wasn’t the only factor contributing to the growing disconnect, which is important here. It sounds like there were some relationship issues.
For the Jets, the decision will ultimately come down to whether they even want Williams back in the building. It’s possible that Williams can be very good with the right defensive minds in place, which, hopefully, the Jets now have.