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The New York Jets shocked the NFL world on Tuesday by trading all-pro Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams.
Williams had reportedly requested a trade three times, but Gardner had just signed a four-year extension last summer.
Gardner went to the Indianapolis Colts, while Williams went to Dallas to become the newest member of the Cowboys.
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Quinnen Williams and his then-girlfriend, Maranda, attend the BET Super Bowl Gospel Celebration at the James L. Knight Center on January 30, 2020 in Miami, Florida. (Mike Coppola/Getty Images for BET)
The trade deadline was a whirlwind of emotions, and Williams’ wife, Maranda, sent a heartfelt message when the news broke.
“Words cannot describe the gratitude I feel. God, we thank you for the ups and downs,” she wrote on her Instagram story via the New York Post.
Although Williams never made the playoffs with the Jets and grew “frustrated” with the team, he also offered an emotional take on social media.
“New York will always have a special place in my heart,” he wrote. “To my teammates, coaches and the entire Jets organization, thank you for believing in me and helping me develop on and off the field.
Quinnen Williams of the New York Jets during a game against the Dallas Cowboys on October 5, 2025 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
JETS STARS REACT TO SHOCKING TRADE WITH EMOTIONAL SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS: ‘I’M SICK’
“To the fans, thank you for embracing a kid from Alabama and showing love through every high and low. You welcomed me with open arms and gave me a place to grow. Your energy and passion made every game unforgettable.”
The Jets began the season with seven straight losses before a wild comeback win over the Cincinnati Bengals prior to their bye week. This is the first season of the Darren Mougey-Aaron Glenn tandem and fans were already getting impatient.
New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams before a game against the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on September 14, 2025. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)
But Mougey got a nice return at the trade deadline, including three first-round picks, so Mougey now has the ability to build his own team from scratch.
