Winning the Super Bowl is the ultimate goal for every NFL player. For franchises, the mission is to be the last team standing at the end of the season.
However, for new New England Patriots defensive tackle Milton Williams, his biggest moment in the NFL wasn’t winning a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles—it was signing his record-setting contract with New England, surpassing Patriots legend Tom Brady’s highest deal.
Milton Williams’ Reaction to Joining the Patriots
Williams is thrilled to be in New England, even before stepping on the field. His massive contract stands out as the highlight of his career—over his recent Super Bowl victory.
“I just won a Super Bowl a couple weeks ago. So, I thought that was the biggest day of my life. But this probably going to jump that, for sure. You know, being known as the highest average salary, or however you want to call it. That’s big, man. You know, like I said, they believed in me,” Williams said after signing with the Patriots.
Milton Williams thought winning the Super Bowl with the #Eagles was the biggest day of his life but says passing Tom Brady for richest Patriots contract probably tops it#MiltonWilliams says Pats wanted him the most + plan to play him more than Eagleshttps://t.co/1c1BTebqqO pic.twitter.com/5XOJkEHT3j
— Jeff Skversky (@JeffSkversky) March 13, 2025
Brady is a legend in New England, delivering six Super Bowls to the franchise, but Williams can now claim the highest average annual salary in Patriots history. He signed a four-year, $104 million deal, surpassing Brady’s previous record. Williams had reportedly agreed to a deal with the Carolina Panthers before ultimately landing in New England.
In PFSN’s top 121 free agent rankings, Williams was ranked No. 52, largely due to his role with the Eagles. He wasn’t a starter last season, playing behind Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter, but he excelled as a rotational pass rusher. His 14.2% pressure rate ranked fourth among 101 defensive tackles with over 100 pass rush snaps.
With his new contract, Williams is expected to see starter-level snaps and will be relied on heavily to create pressure from the interior defensive line.
“The more you out there, the more opportunity you got to make plays. And I pride myself on being productive wherever I line up on the defensive line. And I’m gonna bring that here,” Williams said about his expanded role in New England.
By leaving a crowded defensive tackle group in Philadelphia, Williams secured a major payday and a bigger role in New England. While choosing his contract over a Super Bowl victory as his top career moment may be controversial, he takes pride in his accomplishment and is eager to prove his worth with the Patriots.