It’s rare enough to see two brothers dominate on the same NFL defense. It’s unheard of to see three—especially when one of them is fighting his way from the HBCU ranks to make it happen.
Giovanni Williams, a linebacker from Miles College, isn’t just chasing a roster spot with the New York Jets. He’s chasing legacy. If the rookie cracks the 53-man lineup, he’ll join his older brothers, Quinnen and Quincy Williams, on one of the NFL’s most feared defenses—making them the first trio of brothers to suit up together in nearly a century.
That last happened when leather helmets were still a thing.
“It’s sweet because me and my brother play the same position,” Giovanni said during rookie minicamp. “We got the same competition level… just like we’re back home.”
The road from Miles College to MetLife Stadium isn’t an easy one. Giovanni’s path included a stop at Texas A&M–Kingsville before transferring to Miles, where he played under former NFL safety Sam Shade. In 2024, he helped lead the Golden Bears to a 10-2 season, a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) championship, and their first NCAA Division II playoff victory—putting HBCU football squarely in the national spotlight.
Giovanni recorded 29 tackles, five for loss, and a sack in his final college season, all while dropping nearly 130 pounds from his high school days. “I used to weigh 350,” he joked. “Now I’m at 220 and still playing linebacker.”
His NFL DNA is undeniable. Quinnen, the Jets’ 2019 No. 3 overall pick, has 32.5 sacks and a First-Team All-Pro selection under his belt. Quincy, signed by the Jets in 2021, broke out with his own First-Team All-Pro season in 2023. Together, they’ve helped build one of the league’s most feared defensive units.
Giovanni isn’t looking for handouts. He’s looking for history. “I have my own dreams, my own story,” he said. “I want to make my own name.”
And if he makes the final roster this fall, that name won’t just belong to him. It’ll belong to Miles College, to HBCUs everywhere, and to every underdog still dreaming.
