Mike Williams Reflects on Steelers Fans Recruiting Him to Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH – Following the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 37-15 win over the New York Jets on Sunday Night Football in Week 7, Steelers Nation made their best attempt to recruit Jets wide receiver Mike Williams to the Steel City by chanting, “See you in a Steelers uniform next week.” It took a few weeks, but the Steelers ultimately landed Williams by trading a fifth-round pick to New York prior to the trade deadline on Tuesday.
“That was crazy,” Williams said on Wednesday about fans making a pitch for him. “People in the stands (were) telling me, ‘Don’t go back. Stay! Don’t take the plane back.’ That was funny.”
Williams hit the trade market after the Jets acquired Davante Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders, and the Steelers were among the teams that had shown the most interest in acquiring the 30-year-old Williams, along with the New Orleans Saints and his former club, the Los Angeles Chargers.
”I was asleep, and I was feeling like my phone vibrating. But, I thought I was dreaming,” Williams said of when he found out that he had been traded to Pittsburgh. “It was like five missed calls from my agent. Then the GM from the Jets (Joe Douglas) called and told me about the trade.”
NFL insider Jordan Schultz revealed that the Steelers wanted Williams for two reasons — he’s good in the 20s and good on 50/50 balls.
“Excited for the opportunity,” Mike Williams said on Wednesday. “Happy to be here. Looking forward to it. Ready to get this thing rolling. It’s exciting. It starts up front, the running game. And then everybody sees plays that the receivers make. GP going out there, making big time plays every game. So, adding me just added another threat, a guy that can go out there and make plays. I’m looking forward to the opportunity. I’m a playmaker. I want to make plays. I want to get the ops. I’m going to go out and work and show that I deserve to be on the field.”
Russell Wilson’s vintage moon ball has been on display in two games. He hit a beauty to George Pickens in stride for a 45-yard gain in last Monday night’s win over the New York Giants. He could be a perfect match for Williams.
“He puts the work in. Time in, time out. A leader on and off the field,” Williams said of Wilson. “I’m just very thankful to have a guy like that, a quarterback on this team. A leader to put us in the right position to be successful.”
Williams is looking forward to putting his hand in the pile and contributing right away.
“I had a pretty good day today, I’ve been in quite a bit,” Williams said of his first practice with the Steelers. “I was moving around everywhere. I’m trying to learn as much as possible. You never know what can happen, people move, things change. So, I’m just learning all the positions. I got some reps with Russ also. So, keep building the rest of the week and see where we are on Sunday.”
RELATED: Mike Williams is Thankful to Have a QB Like Russell Wilson
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Pittsburgh.
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