Star player with family ties to Birmingham city homicide investigators

Quinnen Williams, New York Jets player with family ties to Birmingham police, commends city homicide detectives

One of his many missions is to let Birmingham police officers know they are appreciated.

The New York Jets defensive end’s wife, Maranda, is the daughter of a veteran Birmingham homicide detective. Jonathan Ross treated detectives to a lavish lunch on Wednesday, at least the second time in recent years.

“I know how hard everyone works here,” Williams said. “There are so many crazy things happening in the city, and these guys are doing an amazing job risking their lives to keep everyone safe.”

The Williamses, who run the Quinnen Williams Foundation, filled the police station’s fifth-floor break room with a feast for officers prepared by Williams’ friends and bosses, Andrew Steele and David Deshazo.

“I see what they go through every day, so I want to do something nice for them and show my appreciation,” Williams said. “I appreciate that so many people will do what they have to do to keep us safe.”

Williams, a Wenonah High School graduate, signed a four-year, $32.5 million contract after being drafted third overall by the Jets in the 2019 NFL Draft. Last year, it was reported that he received a four-year contract extension worth $96 million. Mr Williams is known throughout Birmingham and beyond for his philanthropic work through his foundation.

In April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Williams donated healthy meals to front-line health care workers in New Jersey. In May 2020, he joined other Birmingham soccer players through Together Assisting People Inc. to distribute thousands of boxes of fruits and vegetables at Legion Field in Birmingham. TAP was founded by fellow former Alabama football player Chris Rogers, a defensive end on the Crimson Tide’s 2009 BCS varsity team.

One of Mr. Williams’ biggest initiatives is his “100 Reasons Why” program, which gives his $25,000 in Christmas assistance to 100 single-parent families in Birmingham each year. “Christmas means so much to me. Unfortunately, my mother passed away and my father became a single parent, but I know how hard he worked to make Christmas so important to us. ” Williams previously said. “We probably wouldn’t have gotten anything that year, but he did a great job for Christmas. I know how hard you worked.”