It’s been a rough season for New York Jets linebacker Quincy Williams.
So far, he’s had to get acclimated to a new defensive scheme, introduced by head coach Aaron Glenn and former defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.
Then, midway through the season, the team traded his brother, All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, to the Dallas Cowboys, the first time the Williams brothers hadn’t shared a sideline since 2021.
To make matters even worse, he was unceremoniously “benched” in early November, only to regain his starting spot a few weeks later.
After the roller coaster of a season that has been 2025 for Williams, it’s understandable why the impending free agent is in “wait-and-see” mode on a potential return to the Jets.
Quincy Williams Not Likely to Return to Jets
According to ESPN’s New York Jets insider, Rich Cimini, Williams will not be receiving a contract extension from the team, unlike center Josh Myers and tight end Jeremy Ruckert.
The 29-year-old will test the free agent market.
“Like a lot of things around the team,” Cimini wrote, “it’s up in the air.”
“While the former All-Pro linebacker is open to returning to the Jets, he said scheme fit will be a huge factor. In other words, he’s in wait-and-see mode.”
“Williams wouldn’t say the current system is a bad fit for him, but he acknowledged that defensive coordinator Steve Wilks — fired last Monday — asked him to do ‘a lot of different stuff’ than he did previously in the Robert Saleh scheme.”
Under former head coach Robert Saleh and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, Williams shined as an off-ball linebacker.
After being drafted with the 98th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars couldn’t figure out how to use Williams and cut him loose.
The Jets claimed him off waivers, uniting him with his brother, and he ascended into an All-Pro in 2023.
Throughout his five-year tenure in New York, Williams has racked up 545 tackles, 58 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, and one interception.
In March 2023, the Jets signed the former Murray State product to a three-year, $18 million deal that’s set to expire after the season.
It would be absolutely understandable if Williams, on the back-end of his prime, would prefer to play for Saleh or Ulbrich in 2026, where he was able to pop in their shared defensive scheme.
Quincy Williams Looking for a Scheme Fit in FA
While Williams has been a good soldier this season for the New York Jets, despite the hand he’s been dealt, he did tell reporters that scheme fit will be a deciding factor when he enters unrestricted free agency this spring.
“When I’m in the right defense, I ball out. That’s my main thing. This offseason is going to be about getting put in the right defense, making sure I’m in the right defense. If that’s at the Jets, that’ll be good. It depends on the D coordinator they bring in and the defense they run,” Williams said via Cimini.
“I’m going to take all that into consideration. This year has taught me that being in the right defense [is important]. To succeed, it doesn’t have to do with your capability, your talent. The defense has to fit you also.”
Considering Williams’ frustrations with his role this season, and the Jets unlikely to change their defensive philosophy, it’s more likely than not the former All-Pro will be taking his talents elsewhere in 2026.
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