Leonard Williams: "We Love To See These Types Of Challenges"

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

We've been talking a lot about Quenton Nelson already this week.

Leonard Williams (0:02)

You've seen him in practice.

SPEAKER_3 (0:04)

What can you say about your new teammate?

Leonard Williams (0:06)

I mean, I think he's a great player. I think it was a great decision to bring him over here. I feel like he's gonna help us win games, and shout out to AB. I feel like he's a great player as well. He's also coming off of a great game. But I try to talk to both of those guys about just the business of it all.

I've been through it on both sides, I feel like. I've been in AB's situation, I've been in Quenton's situation. And I think as a vet, I'm trying to just share my wisdom with both of those guys, telling Q the differences around here and what it means to come into a new organization and same with AB and stuff like that.

SPEAKER_3 (0:43)

What do you tell Anthony Bradford in a situation like this?

Leonard Williams (0:46)

I just tell him to control what he can. There's so many times in this league, in this business that there's things happening outside of your control, outside of your realm.

The more you focus on those things, the more it takes away what you can do. And in these situations, all you can do is just focus on yourself, focus on things that you can control, which is like your attitude, mindset, work ethic, like all those types of things. And a lot of times, you could turn a situation that may look not so great in your favor, you could turn it into something special.

SPEAKER_3 (1:17)

When did you learn that?

Leonard Williams (1:19)

I think I learned it through my first trade, actually. When I was going from the Jets to the Giants, I felt like it was because the Jets didn't want me anymore. I was a young guy. It was my first time going through what the business meant in this league. And I had to quickly learn to not beat myself up, not take it personal, not get too low mindset wise, and just realize there's a new opportunity ahead of me now going to the Giants.

And let's make the most of that situation, turn this new situation into something special.

SPEAKER_4 (1:51)

When you got traded here, how long did it take you to feel like this was home? Like you knew the shortcuts from freeway to get here, they know where to park and where to live. Where did you really feel like this was your place?

Leonard Williams (2:03)

Honestly, I didn't feel it until I signed back after that season.

I was living in the hotel for like the first three or four weeks I was here, which was tough. I mean, it's a beautiful hotel on the lake and all that type of stuff. Living out of suitcases and things like that on a new team, trying to learn everybody's names, trying to see what it's like in the building, the way people go about their business. I feel like it's a challenging and humbling experience. I feel like regardless of what caliber player you are, I think Quenton is a high caliber player. He's been Pro Bowl every year. He's been in the league, but you have to go through a humbling process sometimes when you are new to a team and just trying to get everyone familiar with everyone.

SPEAKER_4 (2:47)

When you got traded here, were you under the understanding that the Seahawks were going to try to re-sign you and you had already were thinking that way?

Leonard Williams (2:54)

Not at all. That's another one of those situations where I had to go back on what I stand on, just controlling what you can control.

I had to move across the country furthest way as possible from New York and learn a whole new team, learn a whole new defense. So in that situation, I was just seriously taking it day by day, play by play, which sometimes if you can control your mindset in that way, it almost makes you thrive, in my opinion, because it's like the most locked in I've been sometimes when I'm in those moments, just high pressure, focus on yourself and the controllables. I ended up playing well and finished with a contract, but I wasn't thinking about that future at all.

SPEAKER_1 (3:37)

How have you done the times you've played against Quentin and what do you really remember about those matchups?

Leonard Williams (3:42)

I mean, what I remember about Quentin is just his effort. Also, his technique.

I feel like there's high caliber talent athletes and humans in this league, but the guys who can put their talent matched with their technique and effort are the ones who are in that higher caliber of player. And I think that's what I think about Quentin.