Quinnen Williams was just 12 years old when his mother, Marquischa, passed away after a battle with breast cancer.
Williams, now 25 and objectively one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL, recently told Ryan Clark on “The Pivot Podcast” that he lost his best friend when his mother died in 2010 at just 37 years of age.
“It was a hard moment man,” Williams said, via Overtime Heroics. “It was definitely painful during that time to lose a best friend, to lose somebody who you know that had your back and somebody who you know that was going to raise you up to be a phenomenal person.”
Williams, whom the New York Jets selected with the third overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Alabama, signed a four-year, $96 million deal ($66 million) guaranteed this offseason after putting together his best season in 2022. In 16 games, he recorded a career-high 12.0 sacks with 55 tackles (35 solo) and 12 tackles for loss. Williams earned the first All-Pro honor of his career after his dominant season in New York.
Quinnen Williams wants to leave a legacy behind in New York
Williams has indeed made his mom proud, something he set out to do from the moment he lost her 13 years ago.
“It helped me be the person I am today,” Williams said. “Because, I know the way I live my life, the way I go out there, the way I do different things on the field and off the field is all to make my mom proud and all to make sure her and my father know that what you guys taught us never left us.”
“No matter how much money or fame or no matter what setting or circumstance we in, we all gonna live by the foundation and the base that they taught us.”
With his future in New York secured, Williams said he wants to continue to improve and “leave a legacy” behind.
“One of my coaches always told me, ‘Money makes a person who he already is,’” Williams said ahead of training camp. “So if you are a bad person, you are going to be a rich bad person, and if you are a good person, you are going to be a rich good person.
“I feel like I’m a good person and a good athlete, and do all I can do on the field and off the field. My main thing is not the money, but leaving a legacy.”
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