LB Quincy Williams left Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg smiling and speechless after praising his coach in a moment that quickly drew attention.

“Before we talk about football, the biggest thing that (Rutenberg) cares about is my heart. What I do off the field affects what I do on the field, so he wanted to tackle both things,” said Williams in the introductory press conference, per NFL Insider Ari Meirov.

As he witnessed what Williams had to say about him, Mike Rutenberg was left speechless and proud of what his former student had become.

“It takes a lot to leave me speechless. He means so much to me as a person. His family means so much to me. He's an incredible human being who's been through a lot, on and off the field, and has found a way to succeed both on and off the field,” said Rutenberg in his conversation with Ari Merov on NFL Spotlight.

Signed by the Browns to a two-year, $17 million contract after leaving the New York Jets, Quincy Williams is looking forward to playing under his former linebacker coach once again.

Their relationship dates back to 2019, when Mike Rutenberg was the assistant linebackers coach during Williams' rookie season with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

After their college football stint, the duo reconnected in 2021 with the Jets, where Rutenberg served as Williams' position coach. During that stretch, Williams recorded at least 100 tackles each year and earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2023.

They have worked together across multiple franchises and have developed a familiar bond. Entering his eighth NFL season, Williams joined the Browns at a crucial stage as the team builds its defense around Carson Schwesinger.

Under Mike Rutenberg, Williams could unlock his full potential in the linebacker position.

What to expect from Quincy Williams under the Browns banner?

Quincy Williams truly shines under the guidance of Mike Rutenberg, which was evident during their time together with the Jets. Williams' superpower is his ability to run from sideline-to-sideline and defend all 53-and-a-third yards of the football field.

“My mindset is to 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 through my preparation. That's making sure the game plan is right, making sure I know where I need to be,” Williams said back in March, per clevelandbrowns.com.

Back when they were in the Jets, Rutenberg maximized his running speed. His coaching was enough for Williams to record at least 73 tackles every season from 2021 to 2024.

Back in 2023, Williams reached a new zenith with his 139 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and 10 passes defended. He earned the First-Team-All- Pro honors that year. He became one of just six players since 2015 to reach that mark.

As one of the most productive linebackers in the league, Williams' presence would be monumental in strengthening the Browns' defense.

The Cleveland Browns are in full remodelling mode this offseason, and with monumental changes so far, do you believe they will have a good season this year?

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Written by

Suryakant Das

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit