The Green Bay Packers have had to make some tough decisions at running back more than once in the last few years. In 2020, they selected AJ Dillon in the second round of the NFL Draft, indicating that one of their immensely popular running backs, Jamaal Williams and Aaron Jones, was entering their final season with the team.
After that strange COVID-affected year, the Packers decided to re-sign Jones and allow Williams to depart in free agency. The two running backs had both been drafted by Green Bay in the 2017 NFL Draft. While Jones remained with the Packers, Williams signed with the Detroit Lions.
This offseason, it was Jones’ turn to bid farewell to the team that drafted him. After Green Bay signed free agent running back Josh Jacobs, Jones was released and has since signed with the Minnesota Vikings.
Former Green Bay Packers Running Back Jamaal Williams Experienced Great Success After Leaving
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One can only assume that Jones is hoping for the same kind of success with the Vikings that Williams experienced with the Lions. In his first season in Detroit, Williams had a then-career-high 601 rushing yards in just 13 games played. The next season, he broke Detroit’s franchise record for rushing touchdowns in a season.
What is more, Williams broke the record at Lambeau Field in the last game of the season, a Lions victory that knocked the Packers out of the NFL Playoffs and, as it turned out, ended Aaron Rodgers’ time in Green Bay.
The 17 rushing touchdowns Williams had that season broke the Lions record that was previously held by Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders.
Despite his 1,066 yards and 17 scores, the Lions opted not to bring Williams back in 2023. Instead, he signed with the New Orleans Saints. Last season, he had 306 rushing yards and a touchdown while playing for a Saints team that woefully underperformed.
Jamaal Williams Responds to Aaron Jones Leaving the Green Bay Packers
Jones And Williams
Williams appeared on the NFL Network on Monday to discuss the Saints and his view on what is going on with running back Alvin Kamara’s holdout. He was also asked about Jones leaving the Packers and what he thought about it. He responded:
“Aaron, he got it man. He’s just a great vet.” @jswaggdaddy drops some RB love on his former teammate Aaron Jones. 🤞 pic.twitter.com/0hS1ycip1L
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) June 17, 2024
“I know he got that bump, that wooden motivation, that chip on the shoulder, and it’s a good one to have too. And you know what, for me, I wasn’t even thinking about it until I actually hit the field. Except for that last game at Lambeau, running out of the tunnel I was like ‘I’m back to where I first started.’
“But Aaron, he got it man. He’s a great vet, he learns, he’s always going to learn from somebody. He’s not arrogant enough to think he knows everything yet. And at the same time, Aaron knows so much right now, and what got him to where he’s at now and being a professional is what he’s going to keep doing.”
Williams also expressed some jealousy that Jones was going to a team that just unveiled some all-white uniforms. He joked that every time he has left a team, they have gotten all-white uniforms once he leaves and he really wants to wear one.
There truly is no one like Jamaal Williams.
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