The Green Bay Packers have had to rely on backup quarterback Malik Willis over the last two weeks, and despite walking away with two losses, it hasn’t been due to a lack of Willis’ play. In fact, the Packers’ quarterback has been outstanding in the last two games, making play after play and instantly earning the respect and praise of his home fans.
Willis is set to become a free agent following the 2025 season, and he has had the opportunity to audition for teams in 2026 recently. He’s making his case clear for many quarterback-needy teams.
Why Is Malik Willis Ready To Be A Starter?
Willis was drafted in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans. Willis lit up the stat sheet at Liberty with his electric arm and dual-threat abilities.
The young quarterback played in eight games in his rookie season, including three starts. Willis struggled, as did the Titans in general that year, completing about 50% of his passes, and he threw three interceptions without recording any touchdowns.
The Liberty product stayed in Tennessee for 2023 and played in just three games before signing with the Packers in 2024. Willis backed up quarterback Jordan Love and did so very well. When Love went down in the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil, Willis stepped in.
The backup quarterback led the Packers to two consecutive wins and played in seven games last year.
Now, in 2025, he’s only added to that with four more games, including one start. In that one start, which came last week against the Baltimore Ravens, Willis had his complete skill set on display.
“He made play after play after play out there,” head coach Matt LaFluer said after the game. “He was one of the few right spots, I would say, on the night in regard to what he was able to do. He made plays. He threw the ball accurately.”
Despite the loss, Willis finished Saturday’s game with 288 passing yards, 60 rushing yards, and three total touchdowns. Those three touchdowns matched his total for incompletions on the night.
Willis completed 18 of his 21 passes before leaving the game with an injury in the fourth quarter. The Packers’ quarterback turned in one of the best performances of the week, ranking No. 2 in the NFL among all quarterbacks, according to PFSN’s QB Impact.
In fact, after relieving Love the week prior against the Chicago Bears, Willis put up another Top 5 performance. He ranked No. 5 in the NFL among all quarterbacks against the Bears, and followed that up with a Top 2 finish in Week 17.
“He can make any throw on the planet. I’d put him up against anybody,” LaFluer said. “I just think that speaks to the type of competitor Malik Willis is. He’s as tough as anybody.”
Not only was Willis dealing with a shoulder injury throughout the game on Saturday, which eventually forced him out of the game late, but he also suffered from a sickness during the week that limited his practice reps.
The Packers have their franchise quarterback in Love, but Willis’ 2025 performance is showing teams he’s ready to get a shot as a starter, even if it’s not in Green Bay.
Willis always had an electric arm in college, and his legs are an X-factor. He’s found a way to put it all together with the Packers, and he’s playing at a very high level.
“I think that what you put on tape is your pitch,” Willis said for his upcoming free agency. “Obviously, any opportunity would be a blessing. You want to think about that type of stuff, but you can’t worry about tomorrow.”
He added, “Today has enough problems on its own, and you’ve got to figure out how to get back on track here.”
Willis and the Packers will look to get back on track on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, regardless of who suits up at quarterback.
But, with the playoffs after that, and Love close to returning, Saturday may have been one of the last times you see Willis in a Packers uniform. He’ll undoubtedly have interested teams in free agency based on his performances lately.
