FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said Wednesday that defensive tackle Quinnen Williams has been “a different guy with his leadership and his voice” since returning for the offseason program.
Williams had seven tackles, three of them for loss, in Sunday’s 27-23 win over the Indianapolis Colts. He also forced a fumble in the red zone in the fourth quarter. Dallas held Indianapolis to 271 total yards and 3-of-13 on third down.
Schottenheimer met with reporters before practice Wednesday at The Star.
“Talk about a guy that his entire life he’s been one of the best players every time he’s lined up to play,” Schottenheimer said. “But what makes him special is the type of man he is. I see it when he’s with his wife, his kids, but he brings a special voice in a good way. Doesn’t have to be loud, but the way he works.”
“I think you’ve really noticed in the last couple weeks the way he’s practiced,” Schottenheimer continued. “It’s been amazing, and it’s good for all the guys to see. You work like that, you play like that. It’s all part of the process.”
Quinnen Williams Arrived At A Difficult Time
Dallas acquired Williams from the New York Jets at the November 2025 trade deadline. The Jets had drafted him third overall in 2019. Two days after the trade, Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland died, and the team marked the one-year anniversary of his death last Friday.
The follow-up at the same availability went back to Williams’ first months in Dallas.
“I think he wasn’t as comfortable last year speaking up,” Schottenheimer explained. “He came in a very difficult time for all of us, certainly, and I thought he just put his head down, went to work. But he’s from the time he’s come back from the offseason program, he’s been a different guy with his leadership and his voice.”
Williams met with reporters at his locker later Wednesday, where the subject of finding his voice in Dallas came up.
“I’m gonna keep that to myself,” Williams said.
Williams Stays Hard On Himself
His own play came up later in the same session. Williams has been part of an interior that Schottenheimer said has won “the interior part of the pocket” alongside defensive tackle Kenny Clark.
“I’m extremely hard on myself, and I feel like I’m going in the right direction,” Williams explained. “And the person I want to be like, and the player I want to play like, and I just got to keep going and keep doing the things I know I can do, and keep executing, and fix these bad things, and correct. I mean, keep building off the good things, and correct the bad things.”
A second question on the same subject followed a moment later.
“Oh yeah, yeah,” Williams said. “I’m gonna, I’m gonna, I’m gonna keep challenging myself. I’m gonna keep challenging myself to make more plays, to be more effective in the pass game, to be consistent with my hands, to be consistent in the run game, and do the things I can do to be a game changer.”
The Cowboys (4-5) host the San Francisco 49ers (7-1) on Sunday at AT&T Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:25 p.m. CT on Fox.
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