Jets have found their two undisputed leaders amid a miserable 2025

If you're a New York Jets fan, this season has felt more like clawing your eyes out than it has watching professional football. They aren't going to make the playoffs, and at this point, the most positive thing that can possibly happen is the head coach keeps his job. But there is a silver lining developing while chaos ensues.

In many ways, Sauce Gardner has been a disappointment as a leader. His post-game comments continue to deflect blame, something a leader should not do.

Up until recent weeks, he's been one of the team's best players for multiple seasons. You want your top players to also act as captains. Luckily for the Jets, Gardner isn't their only superstar.

And the other superstars have proven to be the kind of leaders you need to weather the rocky seas of a rebuild.

Garrett Wilson and Quinnen Williams acknowledging each other's leadership is bigger than you think

On Thursday, the two best players on the Jets roster stood in front of the media for a press conference. This is far from a unique development. Players talk to the media non-stop all season, but something felt unique about today's words, particularly their origin.

Wilson spoke about the tenure of Williams' career and how he's been able to emulate him during the first three and a half years of his career.

He touched on his consistency, on and off the field. He noted that, given his own captain duties, he can now speak with Williams on a higher level. And he takes small lessons from every interaction with the Pro Bowl defensive lineman.

When asked about what he appreciates in Williams, he had a lot to say.

"Just the way he carries himself... the way us as a team react to him when he does talk or he does make a play... now being a captain with him I feel like we're having different level of convos... mostly he's just stayed the same person, he's very consistent in what he does... It's bits and pieces, I can take what's naturally me, and it just makes me respect him that much more."

Garrett Wilson

Williams has had his ups and downs as a leader. When it came to light that Aaron Rodgers was being sent out of town in favor of yet another rebuild, he famously took a subtle jab at the franchise, complaining about this development.

Since that point, though, he has been an exemplary captain. Everyone is going to slip up, but he's learned from his own mistakes. It's clear based on how the players talk about him. With the state of the Jets today, he could have made plenty of noise already if he had any problems — it appears he wants to be here.

He returned the praise to Wilson. He spoke about the young receiver's ability, work ethic, and modesty. He echoed Wilson's sentiments about emulating Quinnen's example. Williams noted that it's a huge positive for the younger guys to have Wilson to watch work because he does "the right things."

"You got a guy who's super talented, super humble, who works his butt off every single day. And a lot of guys are us are seeming to do the things that he's doing and being the guy that he is."

Quinnen Williams

You love to hear that Williams recognizes others actually following Garrett Wilson's lead. This season is not going to end in glory. All you can hope for is that a positive winning culture slowly develops. This is how that happens. The right guys organically take their place in the front. That's the only way anything in Florham Park is ever going to change.

The Jets need a lot right now, I know. They need more talent, less stupidity, and better strategy. But above all else, they need to establish a culture. Quinnen Williams said one more thing that stuck with me the most.

"As a guy who does the right thing every single day... his voice should be heard. Because if more guys be like him, this team can go in the right direction. "

Quinnen Williams

This is what the Jets need. He hit the nail right on the head — "the right direction." The Jets haven't headed in the right direction in over a decade. Let's hope these two can begin to redirect them on that path.