Jets bench former All-Pro LB Quincy Williams

After trading two defensive leaders Tuesday, the New York Jets continue to shake up their personnel on that side of the ball. According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, the team is benching linebacker Quincy Williams.

“My coaches told me I was underperforming, that I’ve been underperforming since training camp,” Williams told Cimini. While the former All-Pro admitted that he is “not thrilled” with the decision, he clarified that he’s “not mad” and hopes to win his job back.

The Jets added Williams off waivers ahead of the 2021 campaign, pairing him with his brother, Quinnen Williams. The acquisition had an immediate impact in New York, collecting 110 tackles during his first season with the Jets. That started a streak of four-straight 100-plus-tackle campaigns, including a 2023 season where he earned an All-Pro nod after finishing with a career-high 139 stops.

Williams’ production has been down in 2025. He missed four games with a shoulder injury, and he’s otherwise been limited to 22 tackles and 1.5 sacks in four starts. Pro Football Focus seems to back the coaching staff’s assessment, as the site currently ranks Williams 57th among 82 qualifying linebackers.

While Quincy watched as Quinnen was shipped off during Tuesday's trade deadline, the linebacker was almost included in the same deal. According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, the Dallas Cowboys discussed a deal with the Jets that would have seen Dallas acquire both Williams brothers. That specific deal obviously didn’t come to fruition, and the Cowboys ended up pivoting to former Cincinnati Bengals defender Logan Wilson to fill the linebacker void.

The 29-year-old is set to hit free agency after this season, and it seems pretty clear that the current regime is souring on the former defensive star. Considering Williams’ demotion, it’s a bit surprising that the Jets didn’t jump at the opportunity to move off of the linebacker.