Sometimes, a player who had been a key part of a football team elsewhere might not necessarily see that same success follow him to his new team. Especially when that change comes on the heels of a new lucrative deal, as well as if it’s the first big contract for that player.
Fortunately for the Patriots, that hasn’t been the case with defensive tackle Milton Williams.
Williams came to New England earlier this offseason fresh off a Super Bowl victory with the Eagles, and was among the more notable names signed by the team during free agency. The hope was that he could be a force along Christian Barmore, giving the team both a tenacious pass rush while also solidifying their run defense.
Still, there were some who noted that Williams didn’t see the amount of playing time with the Eagles that he was likely to see here, which led to questions about the signing.
Instead, Williams has gone on to prove those doubters wrong. He’s been better than expected and has been an impact player on that side of the football, with the team now having a dangerous tandem up front on its defensive line.
However, Williams suffered some bad luck midseason, with the veteran going down with an ankle injury in mid-November that landed him on injured reserve.
Fortunately, players like Corey Durden and Khryis Tonga helped carry the load in his absence, allowing the Patriots to weather his loss long enough for Williams to return at the end of 2025 just in time for this playoff run.
But so far, Williams’ play on the field has only been part of the story. The bigger part has seemed to be his hunger on the field and his drive, which has resulted in a tenacious player who has made an impact during all three of New England’s postseason wins.
Head coach Mike Vrabel was asked on Tuesday about Williams and how he goes about trying to ensure a player remains grounded after receiving such a big contract. He discussed a variety of factors, but said it ultimately starts with the player’s family.
“Well, having done a lot of work with him coming out and just knowing who he is as a person, but his family,” explained Vrabel. “I think his parents have been fantastic raising him and his sisters. When you have good bones, you can survive a lot.”
“For a young player to come into a lot of money like that, it is important that they remain grounded and they remain hungry and want to continue to work. I know that his parents and his family have a lot to do with that.”
The four-year deal, $104 million deal Williams signed this offseason averages $26 million per year, with New England having lured him away from the Panthers after Carolina had also been vying for his services. He’s been a great addition, with the former Eagle also seeing time on what Vrabel called the “gray” team on special teams, which is the attacking unit on the punt team. The veteran has additionally seen time on the field-goal defense unit.
Vrabel went on to credit Williams for being “tireless,” adding that the veteran has improved during the season, which is one of the key things that has made this playoff run so special.
“He’s a tireless worker. He worked hard,” said Vrabel. “He was here in the offseason. I think that makes a difference. And then obviously, just the disruption. I know everybody that rushes the passer. They strive for sacks, and certainly, our ability to affect the quarterback goes well beyond the sack numbers.”
“You can get a sack. I mean, Gonzo [Christian Gonzalez] got a sack, the quarterback ran out of bounds. And so if you just look at that, it can be somewhat misleading, but he certainly has brought some disruption. We talked about that after the Houston game. We talked about that yesterday, or a few days ago here, about the disruption. And I think he has improved some of his technique in the run game and things that we’ve talked about, and he’s consciously tried to work on that, and I appreciate that.”
Should Williams end up hoisting a Lombardi trophy for the second time in two years, it’s safe to say the Patriots will have absolutely gotten their money’s worth.
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Ian Logue is a Seacoast native and owner and senior writer for PatsFans.com, an independent media site covering the New England Patriots and has been running this site in one form or another since 1997.
