Former Jets All-Pro likely playing his last snap in New York in Week 18

Quincy Williams has been one of the best development stories the New York Jets have produced in recent years. Claimed off waivers as a low-risk flier in 2021, Williams grew into a tone-setting linebacker and blossomed into a genuine All-Pro and team leader.

For a time, Williams was a foundational piece in the middle of the Jets’ defense and a symbol of what smart player development could accomplish. Unfortunately, that chapter appears to be nearing its end.

Williams is set to hit free agency this offseason, and all signs point to his time in Florham Park coming to a close. After a disappointing 2025 campaign, the Jets are widely expected to reshape their linebacker room in the coming months.

At this stage, it is difficult to envision the Jets making a serious push to retain Williams — or Williams wanting to return for another reset. As such, Week 18 will likely represent his final snaps as a member of the Jets.

Quincy Williams will play his final Jets game in Week 18

The Jets had an opportunity to move former All-Pro linebacker Quincy Williams ahead of the trade deadline earlier this year, and interest around the league was reportedly real.

The Dallas Cowboys, among others, explored the possibility of including Williams as part of a broader Quinnen Williams deal, while additional teams were believed to have checked in as well. Despite that attention, the Jets remained steadfast in their asking price.

The Jets reportedly sought a fourth-round pick in return, which was ultimately a valuation that proved too steep for potential suitors. That decision looked foolish at the time, and it's aged even worse.

Williams was briefly relegated to the bench shortly after the deadline before eventually reclaiming his starting role, but his play never rebounded. What followed was the continuation of an underwhelming season, reinforcing the sense that the Jets should have taken whatever value they could get for him when the opportunity existed.

Instead, Williams is now expected to walk in free agency for nothing. The former All-Pro will turn 30 years old before the start of the 2026 season and is coming off a highly disappointing campaign, but he still has a lot of fans around the league.

It would not be surprising to see Williams land in either San Francisco or Atlanta, potentially reuniting with former Jets coaches Robert Saleh or Jeff Ulbrich, respectively, assuming both remain in those roles with their current teams.

Either way, Williams is unlikely to return to the Jets in 2026. The team is expected to search for a new running mate alongside Jamien Sherwood this offseason, as linebacker has emerged as one of the roster’s more pressing needs.

Quincy Williams should be remembered as one of the Jets’ better developmental successes in recent memory. He's a player who wore his heart on his sleeve and left everything on the field every Sunday.

But it appears his time in Florham Park will come to a close after this weekend’s regular-season finale. This is likely the end of the road for the elder Williams brother.