NASHVILLE – Quinnen Williams arrived in the NFL with plenty of potential.
The third overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft, Williams has since developed into a four-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle while playing with the Jets and Cowboys.
Williams credits two coaches now with the Titans for helping him grow – and he thinks their presence will mean even bigger things for Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons.
In fact, Williams told Simmons this at the Pro Bowl.
"Jeffery Simmons might be Defensive Player of the Year next year," Williams said. "The ability he has, and the things he does well, already he is phenomenal player. And now to have the coaches around him who are going to help him even more, watch out."
Simmons, in his seventh NFL season, recorded a career-high 11 sacks in 2025, when he also tallied 60 quarterback pressures, 67 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss and three forced fumbles. He was named first team All-Pro, and a Pro Bowler.
Last month, the Titans hired Robert Saleh as head coach, and then last week announced Aaron Whitecotton as the team's new defensive line coach.
Williams played four seasons for Saleh with the Jets.
Whitecotton was his defensive line coach in New York, and he was reunited with him this year in Dallas when he was traded to the Cowboys.
"I think he's a phenomenal head coach, a phenomenal defensive-minded coach, and he does things right," Williams said of Saleh. "It's going to be great to have him in Tennessee – players love him, his enthusiasm, his persona, his mindset that he brings to the game. I know Jeff is going to love him."
Whitecotton will enter his 14th season coaching in the NFL with the Titans. He was the defensive line coach for the Cowboys in 2025 after serving four seasons in the same capacity with the Jets (2021-24). His first NFL job was with the Jaguars (2013-16), followed by stints with the Bills (2017-19) and 49ers (2020).
While learning from Whitecotton, Williams said his game, and his technique, improved. Williams finished with 12 sacks in 2022. He's been a Pro Bowler four straight seasons.
"I told Jeffery Simmons, having a head coach like coach Saleh, and having a coach like AW in that room now, it's phenomenal," Willams said. "(Coach Whitecotton) has helped me tremendously in my development in my career. The things I can do now, the things I am now doing, a lot is because of him and what he taught me.
"To see him with Jeffery Simmons, it is great to see."
