It should come as no surprise that Jets linebacker Quincy Williams -- a competitive swimmer in his youth who made it to the Junior Olympics in two freestyle events -- loves going to aquariums. And now, with some time on his hands Williams is eager for a trip to see some fish with his young daughter, Nova.
"I'm very excited to actually get a chance to rest, relax and actually be there with her," Williams told team reporter Ethan Greenberg. "It's kind of hard during the season because you're there for a little bit then she goes to sleep and I'm gone during the daytime.
"So it's gonna be fun. We got a couple of dates planned. The first date is the aquarium for sure. I love aquariums, so I'm hoping she likes aquariums, too."
After spending quality time on the football field -- first on the team's defense with 1,138 snaps (99.1%) this past season -- Williams is ready for some quality time with this family. That does not mean, however, that the game is never far from his thoughts.
"I feel like I have been a vocal leader," he said, reflecting on the season, his fourth with the Green & White. "It was my one thing that I wanted to harp on, and then also my coverage ability and stuff. I felt like I leaned into more of that this season, and then also being comfortable being a vocal leader on the field and then also taking my shots.
"More off the field, but then also on the field with the vocal leader part, too. Though, just communicating on the field. It was just C.J [Mosley]. Then when C.J. went down, Jamien [Sherwood] would step in, one of the rising stars on his team. With that happening, me being a more vocal leader, helping him out until he got comfortable."
Williams was a waiver wire acquisition by the Jets after he was dropped by Jacksonville before the start of the 2021 NFL season. In each of his four seasons with the Jets, Williams has surpassed 100 total tackles (116 this season) and also had 14 TFL. He was named an Associated Press first-team All-Pro after the 2023 season.
He's only now begun the process of resetting mentally and physically after a long and challenging season.
"The biggest thing is the health part, getting back healthy before you start back training," Williams said. "So that's the main focus after the season, giving your body a break, and then figuring out what you need to do to get back to 100 percent and then also training at 100 percent and come back during OTAs and ball out there. Be able to be 100 percent here mentally, so you don't have to worry about your body."
While it's certainly time to recharge his batteries, Williams' mind is never far from the field. He said he plans to closely review his film from each of the Jets' 17 games.
"So I start with the run game, pass game, but I look at every single game, and then I count my minuses as far as like mental buzz," he said. "So that's what I kind of do."
