Life comes at you fast in the NFL, and Quincy Williams is finding that out the hard way.
The New York Jets’ shakeup this week wasn’t just about the two blockbuster trades that sent defensive cornerstones packing. It also included a surprising internal move: Williams, a first-team All-Pro just two seasons ago, has been benched.
A Fall from the Top
The veteran linebacker confirmed the news on Wednesday, revealing that the decision came straight from the top.
“My coaches told me I was underperforming — that I’ve been underperforming since training camp,” Williams said. He admitted he wasn’t “thrilled” with the move, but emphasized that his goal is to win back his starting spot.
Williams’ benching marks a stunning turn for one of the Jets’ defensive leaders. After breaking out in 2023 with a career-best 139 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 10 passes defended, and one interception, Williams earned first-team All-Pro honors and was widely regarded as one of the top linebackers in the league.
That dominance carried into 2024, when he still graded out as one of the NFL’s best linebackers: earning an 87.4 rating from Pro Football Network, ranking 5th at his position. That “decline” wasn’t deemed as too bad, only dropping two spots in the linebacker ranking in 2023 (3rd). But this season, the numbers tell a different story. Through the first half of 2025, Williams’ grade has dropped to 75.7, ranking him just 37th among linebackers.
That’s a sharp decline, perhaps justifying the Jets’ coaching staff’s evaluation that he’s been underperforming.
Injuries, New Leadership, and the Youth Movement
Williams’ performance may also be tied to health and circumstance. He started the first three games of the season before suffering a shoulder injury in a Week 3 loss to the Buccaneers, which landed him on injured reserve. He returned in Week 8 against Cincinnati, helping the Jets to a win, but clearly hadn’t regained his All-Pro form.
With head coach Aaron Glenn and a revamped defensive staff taking over this season, Williams may have found himself on a shorter leash. The new regime didn’t draft or sign him, and with the Jets seemingly shifting toward a youth movement, veterans like Williams are no longer guaranteed reps.
There’s also the looming factor of free agency. Williams is under contract through 2025, but he’s set to hit the market in 2026, which could be another reason the Jets might want to evaluate younger options in live action.
How Quincy Williams Can Rebound
For a player once seen as the emotional heartbeat of New York’s defense, the fall has been steep. However, Williams’ accountability and determination could pave the way for him to regain relevance.
If the Jets give him time to get fully healthy and regain his rhythm, Williams could still reclaim his spot and return to form. After all, the explosiveness, leadership, and instincts that made him an All-Pro haven’t disappeared; they’ve just been muted in a season of transition and frustration. With everything that has gone on, from being benched and his brother Quinnen getting traded, he seems to have the right mindset as a professional.
In the NFL, reputations change quickly, and so do opportunities. For Quincy Williams, the challenge now is simple but urgent: prove he’s still the player who once helped define the Jets’ defensive identity.
