Quinnen Williams

Quinnen Williams was born December 21, 1997, in Birmingham, Alabama, into a tight-knit family that has faced both tragedy and triumph throughout his career. His mother Marquischa passed away from breast cancer when Quinnen was young, a loss that has shaped his public commitments to cancer awareness and family-focused charity work. He was raised primarily by his father Quincy Williams Sr. alongside his brother Quincy Williams Jr., who also plays in the NFL as a linebacker.

Williams attended Wenonah High School in Birmingham, where he was a top Alabama recruit. He signed with Alabama and became one of the most dominant interior defenders in the Nick Saban era, earning the Outland Trophy as the nation's top interior lineman in 2018 and finishing as a unanimous All-American before declaring for the 2019 NFL Draft.

The New York Jets selected Williams third overall in the 2019 NFL Draft, and he developed into one of the most disruptive interior pass rushers in the NFL. His 2022 season produced 12 sacks from defensive tackle — one of the most productive single seasons by an interior lineman in recent memory — and earned him first-team All-Pro honors.

Williams has been selected to multiple Pro Bowls and earned All-Pro recognition, with multiple double-digit sack seasons from a position where such production is exceptionally rare. His combination of quickness, power, and motor has made him one of the most feared interior defenders of his generation, and his on-field play has been matched by increasingly visible leadership in the Jets' locker room.

His trade to the Dallas Cowboys in 2025 paired him with Micah Parsons on one of the most imposing defensive fronts in the NFL. His career résumé includes All-Pro selections, multiple Pro Bowl appearances, and recognition as one of the most productive interior defensive linemen of his generation.

Off the field, Williams has been active in charitable work focused on cancer awareness and breast cancer research, inspired by his mother's memory. His brother Quincy Jr. has played alongside him for most of their careers — including a stint together with the Jets — creating one of the NFL's more visible brother pairings. He maintains endorsement partnerships with Nike and other brands, and he has supported youth football initiatives in both Birmingham and the New York area.