Mike Williams announced his retirement from the NFL on July 17, the first day of the Los Angeles Chargers’ training camp. The wide receiver played eight seasons in the league and had signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Chargers in March.
His retirement has left a significant void in the AFC West team’s receiving corps, and Quentin Johnston was recently asked about his thoughts on Williams’ decision to step away.
Quentin Johnston Speaks Up on Mike Williams’ Retirement
The Chargers selected Johnston in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and he was considered a successor to Williams and Keenan Allen. The 23-year-old receiver played one season alongside Williams in 2023, before the veteran wideout briefly joined the New York Jets and the Pittsburgh Steelers the following season.
“Treat it like next man up,” Johnston said about Williams’ retirement, Per Alex Insdorf. “Him leaving was kinda unexpected, but we just gotta fill in the blank and keep moving.”
When asked if he knew about Williams’ retirement ahead of time, Johnston replied, “Personally, I didn’t know.”
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, who played four seasons with Williams, also spoke about the 30-year-old receiver’s retirement. Although the star quarterback said he wants the best for Williams, Herbert described his decision to walk away from football as “heartbreaking.”
Quentin Johnston on WR room without Mike Williams: “Treat it like next man up. Him leaving was kinda unexpected, but we just gotta fill in the blank and keep moving.”
On if he knew retirement was coming: “Personally, I didn’t know.”
Says he’ll reach out tomorrow on his off day pic.twitter.com/k7BUcBwT7s
— Alex Insdorf (@alexinsdorf99) July 20, 2025
Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman was apparently “disappointed” with Williams’ retirement. He feels the wide receiver is not “easily replaceable.”
“Definitely disappointed,” Roman said. “I enjoyed my time with Mike… Just really happy with him for the next stage of his life.”
Last year, the Chargers had only one receiver, rookie Ladd McConkey, who finished the season with over 1,000 receiving yards. Johnston led the team in receiving touchdowns (8), but he finished his sophomore campaign with just 55 receptions for 711 yards, averaging 47.4 yards and 6.06 targets per game.
Johnston showed signs of significant improvement from his sluggish rookie season, but he still has a long way to go to justify his status as a first-round pick. Fortunately, head coach Jim Harbaugh is the right man to unlock his full potential. It remains to be seen how the TCU product will step up in Williams’ absence.
The Chargers also drafted wide receiver Tre Harris in the second round this year. After extended discussions about his rookie contract, the 23-year-old has finally signed the deal and is now participating in training camp.
The upcoming season is also crucial for Herbert, who is currently 0-2 in the playoffs. He threw four interceptions in the Chargers’ 32-12 loss to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round last season and must bounce back if he hopes to be considered among the league’s top five quarterbacks.
