Ex-Steelers WR Rips Experience with Team: ‘Worst Year I’ve Had in the League’
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams had a tumultuous season last year with both the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers. Things just never went according to plan with both franchises after spending his first seven seasons with the Chargers. He’s now back in L.A. after signing with the Chargers this past week.
Williams, 30, joined the Steelers mid-season in 2024, when he came over from the Jets in a trade deadline deal.
The Steelers sent a fifth-round pick to the Jets in exchange for Williams. He was not heavily used in his time with the Steelers. Over nine games, he was targeted 13 times and made nine catches for 132 yards and one touchdown — a game-winner against the Washington Commanders
“Last year was terrible for me. I’m just being honest. It was terrible. Probably the worst year I’ve had in the league by far,” Williams said during his introductory press conference with the Chargers. “So I’m just putting it in the past, that was the past, and I’m trying to make it feel like it didn’t happen for me.”
Williams added that he never wanted to leave L.A. in the first place.
“Never wanted to leave on my side, but it’s the business part of football and things happen,” Williams said Friday. “Now I’m back, and happy to be back.”
Despite the fact that Williams was little-used by the Steelers, general manager Omar Khan recently defended the decision to make the acquisitions of Williams and Preston Smith at the deadline.
“I think both of those guys helped us. If I had to do it again, I would do it again,” Khan said. “But at the end of the day, the result was we lost five straight games and that’s not good enough.”
Williams is the third former Steelers player to sign with the Chargers this week, joining running back Najee Harris and cornerback Donte Jackson. The Steelers play the Chargers at SoFi Stadium in 2025.
Williams has been one of the top deep-ball threats in the NFL in his seven pro seasons, but injuries have slowed his production in the last few years.
Last year, Williams was expected to be the second primary outside option for the Jets, along with former first-round pick Garrett Wilson, but he never developed much of a connection with starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers. In nine games, Williams caught just 12 passes for 166 yards before his trade to Pittsburgh.
Alan Saunders contributed reporting for this story.