Leonard Williams: “This Is The Best Defense I’ve Played On” | Seattle Seahawks

Leonard Williams: “This Is The Best Defense I’ve Played On” | Seattle Seahawks

What’s up y’all? Good. Since we just had Ernston here and he got player of the week, he he just mentioned kind of nice to get recognition. His name maybe doesn’t always come up in the conversation of some of the top linebackers, but in the year and a half you played with him. What’s what’s really impressed you about him? I mean, I think uh his leadership, just the way he shows up to work, um I feel like he’s this every down type of linebacker. Um, he could play in space, play in coverage, he could play downhill in the run game. I mean, I think he’s one of those like do it all type of linebackers and I I agree that it’s great to see him get his recognition. I mean, I feel like anybody on this team out here getting recognition is a is a positive. Does he seem 26 years old or is that I was actually surprised uh when we found out it was his birthday and he said he was 26. I thought he was a little bit older. Um, I think just his demeanor and his uh maturity and like I said, his leadership just uh uh he feels like he’s a he’s been in the league for a long time. Um, and it’s cool to see that he’s only 26 because he has a long career ahead of him. His speech after the game seemed pretty emotional and all that. What was that like, I guess, for you guys teammates to kind of hear all that? I mean, for me, it’s uh it’s special to see one of my teammates be vulnerable and uh, you know, feel safe enough. Uh that says a lot about our team that you know he’s comfortable with everybody on our team to to be vulnerable in a space like that and uh you know feel like it’s going to be taken well like a family and um I think he’s that’s another big reason why he’s such a great leader on this team. He’s shown the young guys to to do that. Sorry. Is that unique to I mean you’ve been in some different locker rooms. Is that unique to this locker room? Yeah, I would say I mean I feel like uh you know this is obviously a stressful career, stressful job. People have stuff going on outside of football. uh it’s a high testosterone, male dominant type of environment and uh it’s not the easiest place to, you know, to be vulnerable and say that, you know, you’re struggling with something or something’s hard for you. Um we’re taught to like say nothing’s hard and just go through it, you know, and um I think that says a lot about his character and just his leadership. Being in Seattle, it’s either football or enough, but it’s pretty easy to block out distractions here. Yeah, you’ve been in LA at college in New York. Do you find Seattle to be that way? Yeah, I feel the same way. Um, I feel like the fan base, just the culture, even outside of the facility. Um, it just feels like it’s like you’re almost in one of those like southern towns. It feels like it’s just like everything’s about football here. Um, you know, it just feels like it’s like people bleed Seahawks um out here and even, you know, like I said, even outside the building. How much uh with how well you guys have been playing, especially on the interior defensive line, how much has it helped that you and Byron have played together for a year now and and basically I mean I guess Demarcus is really the only kind of new part, but then just all the interplay that you guys have to do, you know, everybody’s been together now for a while. Yeah, I mean building that trust, building that camaraderie, um you know, building that connection and communication, you know, takes time. And, uh, you know, especially for a young guy, I think, uh, you know, he’s impressed me a lot with the way he’s been able to come in and just soak up knowledge, soak up all the information from the guys around him, learn how to communicate, just he’s starting to have more of a voice out there, which is, you know, great. I need to be told some things that that he’s seeing as well. Um, and I think he’s just doing a good job taking on his role and he’s developing well. Ask Mike McDonald about the fact that, you know, you still don’t seem like you’re getting as much recognition for how much you contribute and you talked about how much selfless play you do and how much you create for others. Do you feel what do you feel like is going to be the moment that that maybe people recognize what you bring? Uh, and how much does that matter to you? I mean, I think it matters for, you know, everybody. Like EJ just said, he felt, you know, happy that, you know, he’s getting that recognition. I think everybody wants their recognition. They want their flowers and things like that, but um I think, you know, part of me is just doing what I can control. Uh, you know, I don’t I want I want the recognition obviously, but I think it’s not of me to try to like force or chase those things. I think it’s better of me to, you know, be trusted by my teammates, be trusted by my coaches, uh, dominate, play in and play out, uh, be the best player that I can be. and um you know I think everything else falls in line. You think ultimately the team and how the team ends up playing is going to be what allows you to get some of that recognition? I mean I think so. I mean you know I’ve heard that you know playing in the Pacific Northwest sometimes like people don’t notice you know we’re out here in Alaska and stuff like that. But u I think you know any every winning team um you know the more we eat as a team the more we eat as individuals. Um you know there’s more eyes on us in prime time games uh winning teams and things like that. And I think uh when you’re, you know, shining on a team like that, then you get your recognition as well. You and Bir tied for the team leading sacks. Is there a little friendly competition going there? One up each other. Honestly, I think we both want it together. And I think that’s what’s so beautiful. I don’t think we want to one up each other. I think, you know, when I get a sack, I want him to get the next one. When he gets a sack, he wants me to get the next one. I think we both kind of want to like lead the league together. And I think that’s uh helping us play so well off of each other. and it’s helping us play so well in in general. What’s the play that Byron has made this season that has impressed you the most if there’s a single play? Uh I would just say the screen plays um have been big for me. Um I think he does a great job of stopping the run. I think that he’s known for that. Um I think he’s obviously improved as a a pass rusher. Um but for me sometimes seeing like effort and just uh want to and will from a young guy uh that stands out the most to me. And um you know, I’m seeing him chasing down screens um from sideline to sideline, getting TFLs on screen plays, and I think that’s the most impressive what I’ve seen. When you’re out there with Marcus Lawrence, uh how much do you feel his presence and how does he make your job easier just what he does? Um you know, I definitely feel his presence. He’s a leader. Um he sees things. Um you know, I’ve talked a lot about how he’s helped my game since he’s uh been here of uh just how he sees and views pass rush and how he wants to get to the quarterback. He’s like hungry to get to the quarterback. He’s hungry for, you know, getting forced fumbles and things like that. And um, you know, sometimes he’ll see something and he’ll be like, “Hey, Leo, widening out. They’re coming this way.” Uh, it helps me play faster just knowing he’s on my edge. The play he made on the force fumble. Just when you go back and watch out, how far back out of play is to get back and do that? How impressive was that? I mean, that’s impressive. And I think, you know, young guys are seeing that. That’s like something I just said that stood out about Murf a second ago is um him just having effort and want to and uh running sideline to sideline. Um I think that’s the type of culture and DNA that we’re just building around here right now is um you know regardless of what year you are regardless of where you play on the line or where you play on the field. Um you know we we’re going to play with a certain want to and and drive and you know he was completely out of that play and just he’s showing everyone else on the team that you know he’s a year 12 you know older guy and he’s still chasing down the ball. So everyone can do it. I think it was last week he referenced talking about that topic the play you made in Washington chasing down Jaden Daniels I think is on fourth down or third down or whatever. Where’s that I guess he says that’s the culture but like who who kind of sets the tone that you have all you guys doing? I mean I think of the players set the tone. I mean I think the coaches um address things and say things, but it’s on the players to uh show it every day in practice, show it every day on on film, you know, in games. Uh, like I just said, it’s like there’s no excuse for a young guy to, you know, see year 10 plus guys running down the ball like that and and think that they shouldn’t run down the ball. And, uh, I think the more and more you just see it in the team, the more everyone wants to be that way. You even see like even on the offensive side of the ball, it’s like when the ball gets stopped, you see a wave of blue jerseys coming in and pushing the pile. And I think the more and more you see that on film, the more the team wants to do that. What does this defense rank of all the ones you play on? I mean, it’s the best defense I played on and it’s um you know, I played on some talented defenses. I would say played against um you know, alongside some great D linemen and things like that as well. Um I think what makes this team and defense so special and unique is just uh our connection and I think uh that’s the driving force of everything. What do you remember the Atlanta game last year? Seemed like a pretty big win at the time. You guys have lost a couple in a row going into it. Go down there really bad. I mean, I I think I just remember, you know, Bejon’s a great back. Um, they’re going to get the ball in his hands. He’s going to make plays. Um, I think it’s on us as a defense to uh try to limit his him as much as possible, hit him as much as possible. And then, um, you know, I think they they have drive and want to. So, you know, just like every week, we’re never going to overlook a team. They got a lot of weapons over there. You guys you guys are number two in the league in run defense this year. just philosophically for a defense to be near that end of the the chart against the run. How what does that kind of mean to you guys? I mean, I think that means a lot. Like I always say, that kind of helps open up the rest of the defense when we’re able to stop the run. Um I think every team in the league knows that like if you can just get ran um you know, through your defense, uh the offense can pretty much do whatever they want. But we try to, you know, set teams to be onedimensional as much as possible, make them throw the ball. Um, and then that allows us to rush the quarterback, uh, which what we’re doing well at right now. Jay Reed, back to practice. Uh, what does he bring back and and add to the defense? I mean, another great leader. I mean, this team is built on leaders. Uh, we just have him in every position group at this point. And, uh, just having his presence back is going to mean a lot. Having him, uh, in the rotation is going to help a lot as well. I think Brandon Peely is probably going to get fined for that that play at the in the Vikings game, but I’m you guys are cool with that when you come the defense of of a teammate in that way. I mean, honestly, I might help him pay it. Um cuz I mean to have your teammates back like that is that’s just what I just talked about with connection. I mean, I know um it’s not a clean play per se, but you know um Josh getting hit on that play wasn’t very clean either. And I think um that’s the beauty of this team is we’re going to have each other’s back in a lot of situations. Um, we’re going to fight for each other if we have to. Sorry about this. Is that in your shirt? Uh, yeah, I think so. It was hanging up in my locker. What we just talked about with Peely is pretty much this.

Seahawks defensive tackle Leonard Williams shares insights on the team’s culture and defensive success. He praises Ernest Jones IV (0:17) for his leadership and versatility as a linebacker. Williams highlights the team’s supportive environment, allowing players to be vulnerable (1:07). He discusses the strong football culture in Seattle (2:15) and the importance of building trust among teammates, particularly with Byron Murphy II (2:49). Williams emphasizes the team’s selfless play and collective effort, mentioning DeMarcus Lawrence’s impressive forced fumble (6:24). He ranks the current Seahawks defense as the best he’s played on, crediting their strong connection (7:48). Williams also notes the significance of their #2 ranking in run defense (8:51) and welcomes the return of Jarran Reed to practice (9:19).

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