'I'm hungry': New Cowboys DL Quinnen Williams defines his mindset

New Cowboys defensive lineman Quinnen Williams Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

'I'm hungry': New Cowboys defensive lineman Quinnen Williams defines his mindset

By Zachary Cariola | Last updated Nov 6, 2025 1:39 PM ET

Quinnen Williams has had enough of losing. “I’m hungry to win,” the Pro Bowl defensive tackle said Wednesday after joining the Dallas Cowboys — a team just as desperate as he is to turn things around.

Williams arrives as the centerpiece of a midseason overhaul aimed at salvaging the season for the Cowboys (3-5-1), who have the league’s second-worst defense (397.4 yards per game),

“ Like I said in the beginning, I’m an ultimate competitor, man. Everything I do is about winning," Williams said (h/t: Calvin Watkins The News). "Everything I do, everything I work when I wake up, man, I just want to win. So that kind of forms my ego of I can do anything the coaches [want] me to do if it’s going to get us a win.”

Williams should be a factor in his first game with Dallas, at the terrible Las Vegas Raiders (2-6) after the Cowboys' Week 10 bye. The Raiders have the league's third-worst offense (283.3 yards per game).

Quinnen Williams could end up being the change the Cowboys needed on defense

Through eight games, Williams has 32 total tackles, 17 solo tackles, one sack and three forced fumbles. Williams' ability to clog up the pocket and get into the backfield makes him one of the better run-stoppers in the NFL. He joins defensive tackle Kenny Clark and defensive ends Donovan Ezeiruaku and Dante Fowler Jr. to form a solid front four. Clark (2.5), Ezeiruaku and Fowler Jr. (two apiece) have 6.5 of the team's 20 sacks.

Williams and linebacker Logan Wilson, acquired at the trade deadline from the Cincinnati Bengals, won't make the Cowboys the best defense in the league overnight. But they should stabilize the beleaguered unit (30.8 points per game, second worst in NFL) and take pressure off Dallas' offense, which is averaging 378.4 yards per game (tied for third best in the NFL).

According to NFL.com, the Cowboys have a five percent chance to make the playoffs.

Zachary Cariola

My name is Zachary Cariola and I have been a sports fan for as long as I can remember. My areas of expertise are MLB, NBA, and NFL. You can find my other work on Southside Showdown from FanSided and at Chicitysports where I cover all Chicago sports. When not watching sports, I love spending time with my family and learning history.

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