Quinnen Williams: Building a Winning Culture | Player Interviews

Quinnen Williams: Building a Winning Culture | Player Interviews

Okay, go. Uh, Calvin Watkins, Dallas Morning News. Your thoughts on the trade? Were you surprised by it at all? Uh, I definitely was surprised by it. Um, it’s unbelievable though, man, to be able to, um, come to an organization with so much history, um, so much talent on the team. Um, great ownership, uh, and great great group of guys in the locker room and a great head coach, um, and the things that they guys are doing here. So, I’m super happy to be a part of this. I’m super happy to be a part of this defensive line group that’s super loaded and super talented with Kenneth Clark and O and um Dante Fowl and Coach Aaron. Man, it’s unbelievable to go to go to work with those guys and I’m looking forward to it. So, after the trade, how much did coach uh Cottonwood uh Cotton, excuse me, call you and uh say, “Hey, get here.” Uh we we we talked a little minute, man. And he he’s super ecstatic, man. But he know how I am. I’m one of those people like I can’t wait to get to work. Uh because I feel like action speak louder than words and the this organization taking a chance on me and trading for me. Um give me give me the honor to come in and help this team win football games and um do the do the best I can do to to do my job. So getting traded hurt your feelings at all. Any little part of it? Uh it definitely um missing the fan base and the things that I wanted to accomplish there. um I set out to accomplish there and um super super grateful for the opportunity that the New York Jets and u gave me and just opportunity for the fan base that gave me and it it was a little um heartfelt when I had to miss the players and the the coaches that was there and the things that AG was setting out to to do there and um it is it’s unbelievable but I’m super excited about the new journey that I have and being a Dallas Cowboy man the history behind it like I said and the opportunity I got a chance to play with a great players a great organization and a great great ownership. So, you talked about lining up next to Kenny Clark and also DDU. What are your thoughts on how all three of you are going to be on the field playing in more five down fronts and just your fit alongside them? Uh, whatever I’m whatever I’m my job is to do, man. I I think that’s mostly the coach’s job to to figure out how how that is going to happen. And um that, like I said, they’re they’re two elite defensive tackles, man. Not great. I mean, all great and elite when it come to things that they both do, man. I know Kenneth Clark very well. I studied his film like no other when he was at Green Bay and the two tech rushing he did have. I love to see O um the things he’s done um recently the last two to three years and the past rushing the run stop that he has and and the disruptions that he has also man and you got Solomon Thomas in that room also who I’m very familiar with man. So I’m just super ecstatic to be a part of a group of guys that not only I can learn from grow with but work alongside. So tell Dallas Cowboys fans uh the type of player that they’re getting. I think I think for sure that’s actions speak louder than words when it come down to that statement. Um I I I hang my hat on u being disruptive, being dominant, and um rushing the passer. And also this year, man, I’ve been taking a step forward and stopping the run, man. I know I’ve been reading a lot of stuff and seeing a lot of stuff on Dallas stopping the run, man. So having the opportunity to come here and help those guys out of that and just help turn this turn this thing around when it come down to to that point is is going to be unbelievable for me. And to learn from, like I said, from O and like Kenna Clark and the defensive line in itself, man, it’s gonna be unbelievable, man. And and also show them and lean on them and teach them different things also. So the Bill the BM’s a great group of guys, man. A great defense um for the last few years, man. It’s going to be fun to play with. So, how did you find out about the train? Uh I talked to my agent. I talked to my agent and she told me everything that was going down. Then I also talked to uh the GM of the Jets and the head coach of the Jets and things like that. So um it was pretty smooth smooth conversation. So and a lot of talk that there was the frustration that you had with the the losing. How much did that get to you as a guy who you know won as a as a ultra as a ultra competitor? I think anybody who’s going through uh many many losses like I was going through going to be frustration. I know guys who won their whole life and they lose one game, they be frustrated. So, of course, I was frustrated. Um, but the relationship that I have with AG, the relationship I have with uh with uh the GM Darren there, man, is still great relationships and uh they knew I was frustrated. Um, I think the world knew I was frustrated um being there so long and still losing. Um, but like I said, any ultra competitor, man, any guy who who play this game to win is going to be frustrating. no matter if you win a hundred of games and you lose that one. When I was at Bama, I went 16 and one and lost the national championship. I was frustrated. So, um but the relationship itself has never been has never broken. I still believe in um what AG is doing there is going to be great for those guys and the leadership that he’s has and the and the and the um things that he’s doing there is going to be great for those guys and and the way that uh Darren has handled everything there is going to be great. So, what conversations you have with Shotty and have you talked to Jerry yet? Uh, I had a great conversation with Shotty Matt and I haven’t talked to Jerry yet. So, just a month ago, you were preparing to face this offense and studied them. How excited are you to be on a team where you know that they can put up some points for you? I’m super excited, man. You got a bunch of great guys. You got George Pickers, I’m a huge fan of his. You got CD Lamb, huge fan of his. Dak is his dad has been great um since he got in the league. and young guy Tyler Booker. Man, I’m a huge fan of his since he got drafted here and seen the good things he’s been doing um not only at Alabama but up here also. So Trey Smith, he’s he’s been amazing for the last two, three years here also. So I’m super familiar with with this offense and his O line because I just played him a couple of couple of months ago, but I’m super excited to be a part of a team, not only a team, but an organization that that’s um going to win and going to do good things. So is it weird having a double buy and what does the week look like this for you for preparation? Uh, it’s definitely weird. Uh, it’s definitely weird. It’s my first time getting traded. So, uh, it’s definitely weird, but man, I’m I’m kind of attacking it, um, as like it was going to be a game week for me. Um, just not playing on Sunday. So, just prepping, working out, training, conditioning hard like I’m preparing for a game because I did have a buy last week and trying to stay in game shape, and doing the things I can do necessary. So, um, when it’s time for me to suit up and play for the Cowboys, I could be ready. So, the Cowboys were trying to trade for you before the start of the season. I don’t know if you knew that, but once you found out, what what were your thoughts about the Jets were trying to keep me and now look where you are right now? Can you repeat that question again? The Cowboys are trying to trade for you at the start of the season and now obviously Woody Johnson said, “No, we’re not going to trade him, but now look where you are right now.” Just your thoughts about knowing that they were trying to get you before the start of the season. You end up being here. Uh I didn’t I didn’t really know that um for sure, but I can just know now, man. This is unbelievable honor that um they traded for me um uh to help them come do things that they decide to do especially when it come down to building a winning culture and I definitely want to be a part of a winning culture and want to do my job the best of my ability to help this thing uh go in the right direction and things where we all know it can go. So what’s the last 24 hours just been like for you spent your whole career with one team. Now you have a dramatic shift in your life and you’re with the Dallas Cowboys less than 24 hours. What’s that been like for you? Uh, it’s been probably simple for me. I think my wife is uh dealing with most of it. Uh, but it’s been simple for me. I try to keep the main thing the main thing no matter what I do. And that’s uh getting getting closer to my teammates, my new teammates. Um, getting closer to my newer coach. Um, getting closer to everybody in this organization. Um, let them know the man I am, the person I am, the character that I have. Um, and and getting to the playbook so we can so we can go win football games. And I think that’s the ultimate thing that matters to to make sure I’m I’m physically, mentally right to and uh to go out there and dominate on Sunday. So, what was the biggest thing that coach White Cotton did for you in New York that maybe helped you and that you’re looking forward to maybe getting here? I think anybody can look at the resume like uh before I had White Cotton, I I kind of was um ascended to be a good good defensive tackle, but once white cotton kind of came in my life as a coach, man, I I became an allp pro and a pro bowler. So um the techniques that he has taught me, the things that he has u done for me in my um career when it come down to coaching and stuff like that has been unbelievable and kind of transcended my career to this day. So being paired back with him I know um the sky’s the limit. So not for only me but for this group also because a lot of these guys in this defensive line room first year with white cotton also. So I know um the things he done for me and the things he helped me out with to be the player that I am to this day, he can help that whole group out. So, how much do you pride yourself in the versatility that you have? Whether it be three, two tech, how you play some one tech as well, just being able to move up and down. I think I pride myself in that at all because at the end of the day, um, if I can if I can be on the field and if I can, uh, do the things I think uh, I know I can do, I can be, um, a help to this defense, a help to this team to win football games. So, no matter what they ask me to do, no matter what they wanted me to do, if it’s for to get all three of them on the field, moving to DN for a couple of plays, I’m willing to do that. if it’s whatever they ask me to do, man. I’m pride myself on being the being the best player, best person I am in the locker room and on the field. So, what do you do the rest of this week? There’s no practices. You stay here and you go back to New York. Uh, most likely I’ll probably stay here cuz I had a bye-week last week. So, I stay here and train like I’m preparing for a game this weekend. Just go through that whole regimen, that whole um routine that I always been going through to get ready for a football game on Sunday. um the conditioning, the strength training, everything like that to um to get ready for a game and um probably do a do a full workout on Sunday like I play in a game so I can be ready for whenever time I get ready to play. What’s that look like? What’s that? What’s a workout that’s like you played in a game but not game? Probably six like 60 what is I probably play 50 snaps a game. So probably 50 10 yard sprints be example of something to translate into a game. Um so something like that. So, it’s going to be a good training. I got a chance to meet the training staff um today. So, I just meet with them, talk to them about what I feel and how I’m feeling and things like that and just learn from them and see see what they can do to help me out and to make my thoughts come into reality um to make me be in a better position. So, when I do get ready to play, I’ll be good. So, growing up in Alabama, how much Cowboys did you watch? Were you a Cowboys fan or Cowboys fans in your family anyway? Uh yeah, my father-in-law is a huge Cowboys fan. So, uh, and then my my whole family, they they’re big Cowboy fans also. So, um, you know, in Alabama is more like Aburn, Alabama, and, uh, Cowboys. So, this team had an allp pro difference maker for years on the Dline and Mike Parsons. And the defense hasn’t had the year they would have liked without him. What’s that like coming in? Probably a lot of people are looking at you to kind of be that allpro kind of uplifter for this defense. What’s that like for you? Uh, it’s it’s it’s pretty cool, man. And, uh, Michael Parson is a phenomenal player. like he he can do things where boy I can’t I can’t I dream about doing especially come down to rushing the passer um man but we we’re totally different players man in that aspect man I’m I’m more interior um presence interior push um physical strong um and a good interior pass rusher um and I’m just here to do my job the best my ability and um be a difference maker from the interior standpoint and the defensive line temp standpoint the best way I can. So, did you have a chance to talk to Solomon or or any of the other Cowboy guys? Uh, yes, for sure. I think I think when I first got traded, I got a I reached out to White Cotton to get Kenny Clark and old number and so I already had solid number. But to just embrace those guys uh embrace me into the room, man, and to let them guys know that, man, I’m willing to work and do anything that we can do to get this thing turned around um and do the things that we can win football games on Sunday because that’s what ultimately matters. So, is it going to be weird having Tanzel coaching you now instead of playing all the time? It’s funny cuz uh I had that question. My wife asked me that question and no, like Tanzel always been kind of a uh uh I call it a field general. Um he’s a phenomenal football player. He was a phenomenal football player. He’s still probably a phenomenal football player, phenomenal leader, phenomenal coach, phenomenal uh phenomenal person when it come down to um guiding you in the right direction. and and I’m super excited to have him on the staff um because I had I have played with him uh recently and I know how how beneficial he he was and still is. So same not to be teammates with your brother anymore. It’s okay. I I wasn’t teammates with him from the beginning. So it’s definitely okay, man. And uh I know he’s going to do great things still at the Jets, man, and doing the things he can do there because he’s still all pro linebacker at the end of the day and been been balling this year. So it’s going to be amazing to watch him from afar. So rumor they were trying to get him too. I don’t know if you’re aware of that before yesterday. Yeah. So, is it tough to see what’s going on up there because they trade sauce and now you’re gone and I know you say you have for AG in the in the GM. Yeah. Honestly, I haven’t got a chance to kind of focus on um the last 24 hours and what’s going on there, but I just know in the past, man, the things that AG has been preaching up there, the things has been talking about is is great things, man. It’s going to change that thing around. and the guys who who buy in and listen to him like I was buying in and listen to him, it is going to push that thing in the right direction. So, I’m just super um super super excited to be at a part of of his legacy there and um of his coaching and his standard there. So, how hungry are you to win? You didn’t have a lot of winning with the Jets. Yeah, I’m hungry to win. I’m hungry to win. Like that’s that’s the main thing. Like like I said in the beginning, I’m an ult ultimate competitor, man. And everything I do is about winning. uh everything I do, everything I work, um when I wake up, man, I just want to win. So, um that’s that’s that kind of forms my ego of I can do anything the coaches asked me to do if it’s going to get us a win. So, thank you. Exactly on him.

DT Quinnen Williams speaks with media for the first time since being traded to the Dallas Cowboys, his reaction to the news and his journey to Dallas, his excitement in being able to play alongside players like Kenny Clark and Osa Odighizuwa, and more.

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