As LB Quincy Williams prepared to navigate the 2026 free agency period, he received a call from his former position coach – Mike Rutenberg.

Rutenberg joined the Browns coaching staff as the defensive coordinator after serving as the linebackers coach for the Jets. The two have overlapped at both of Williams' stops in his career, first with the Jaguars and again with the Jets.

The two are reunited once again in Cleveland, as Williams signed with the Browns during free agency.

"That's my dog. He's like my brother," Williams said. "First thing before we talk about football, the biggest thing is Rudy cares about the heart. The biggest thing, what I do off the field affects what I do on the field. So, that's what he wanted to tackle both things as far as what I do on the field so I can show up as myself, show up as this personality always smiling as me, show up every single day at work like that. So, he cares about that a lot. And then on the field, as long as we take care off the field, on the field should be easy. […] He taught me every single thing I know as far as the linebacker positions in the league. He was with me the two teams I've been on, so we have a good relationship."

Williams first began his NFL career in Jacksonville after the Jaguars drafted him in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He spent two seasons with the Jaguars, starting eight of 18 games played. He totaled 59 tackles, three tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one pass defensed.

William spent the previous five seasons with the Jets, starting 73 of 78 games played. He recorded 554 tackles, 58 tackles for loss, 21 quarterback hits and 12.5 sacks. He also added nine forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, 27 passes defensed and one interception. He registered four consecutive 100-tackles seasons beginning in 2021.

Over his time with the Jets, Williams said Rutenberg helped him play more freely in their zone schemes and improve his ability to focus and use his eyes in man coverage. As he became more familiar with the defense in his first few seasons, he began to flourish. Williams said he refined his approach of how he put together his workouts, training and diet, as well as his how he studied and treated his practice reps as game reps. His efforts paid off, as Williams was named a first team All-Pro for the 2023 season.

Now in Cleveland, Williams feels he will be rejuvenated by the chance to play once again for Rutenberg, who he knows will put him in the best position to succeed, as well as play in a similar style scheme.

He also believes he brings speed to the Browns' linebacker room.

"(Like) a cheetah chasing a gazelle when he first wakes up," Williams said. "My mindset is be there before the ball gets there or be there before the runner or receiver knows you're there. The only way I can do that is by my preparation. That's making sure the game plan is right, making sure I know where I need to be, making sure I know where my teammates are too. So, I know what plays I can take and what shots I can take. And so, all that put together looks like a cheetah chasing a gazelle, because I know where I'm going and I know how fast I need to be to get there before you turn around."

Williams joins a linebacker room that features AP Defensive Rookie of the Year Carson Schwesinger as well as depth pieces in Nathaniel Watson, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold and Edefuan Ulofoshio.

Schwesinger and the linebacker room played an integral role in the success of the Browns' defense in 2025. Schwesinger led the team with 146 tackles, and had two interceptions, 2.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss. He led all NFL rookies in tackles and tackles for loss and tied for third in interceptions. The Browns' defense finished the season ranked first in team tackles for loss, tied for first with four defensive touchdowns, third in sacks per pass attempt, opponent passing yards per game, team sacks and fourth in total yards allowed per game and total net yards allowed in 2025.

Williams believes he can be an important addition to the room as the Browns look to the 2026 season, both on the field and as a leader.

"My touch is gonna be the touch," Williams said. "I'm gonna be honest with you. So, the biggest thing is just being a part of that room, just trying to feel the room out first and see how much Quincy that the room can take and then how much Quincy that the room is even needed in the first place. Just because it's a great group of guys already here, hard playing and stuff, so I know we won't have those conversations about effort. So, we just got to figure out what other conversations that we need to get touched up on."