Mike Williams thought he was dreaming when he was asleep and his phone started buzzing Tuesday, with his agent trying to let him know that he was being traded ahead of the NFL trade deadline.

As it turns out, it was not a dream but a reality for the former Clemson star and longtime NFL wideout, who was dealt Tuesday from the New York Jets to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2025 fifth-round draft pick.

“I was asleep. I was feeling like my phone vibrating, but I thought I was dreaming,” Williams told reporters Wednesday. “It was like five missed calls from my agent, and then the GM from the Jets (Joe Douglas) called me and told me about the trade. So, yeah, excited for the opportunity, happy to be here, looking forward to it and ready to get this thing rolling.”

Before being shipped to Pittsburgh, Williams was in his first season with the Jets. He signed a one-year deal with the Jets in March after being released by the Los Angeles Chargers.

According to Williams, the Steelers were on his radar during free agency before he ended up inking with the Jets.

“I actually had a meeting scheduled here, but the Jets was the first meeting, and I didn’t leave the building, so that’s how that went,” he said. “But I’m here now, and I’m excited about it.”

Prior to this season, Williams, 30, spent the first seven seasons of his NFL career with the Chargers, who made him the seventh overall selection in the 2017 draft.

One of the NFL’s most dynamic and explosive wide receivers, Williams recorded 19 receptions for 249 yards and one touchdown for the Chargers in 2023 before his season was cut short by a torn ACL.

How would Williams describe what his short stint in New York was like with Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers?

“It was cool,” Williams said. “Obviously going over there after (the ACL injury), not having OTAs, training camp, all that to get the chemistry right with Aaron and that – he’s real detailed, likes what he likes. So I feel like me not being able to go in there and transitioning as quick is probably what went wrong.”

Williams has dealt with injuries throughout his time in the league but feels healthy again and fully recovered from the season-ending ACL injury last year.

“I’m good. I’m ready to go,” he said. “I’m ready to go out here, make plays.”

After finishing his Clemson career as one of the most decorated wide receivers in school history — he left Clemson ranked third in school history in receiving touchdowns (21), fourth in receiving yards (2,727) and fifth in receptions (177) – Williams has put together a highly productive NFL career while piling up 321 catches for 4,972 yards and 31 touchdowns across 97 career games to date.

Williams is excited for the opportunity that awaits him in his new NFL home in the Steel City.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity,” he said. “I’m a playmaker. I want to make plays, I want to get the ops. But I’m going to go out here, work and show that I deserve to be on the field.”

–Photo courtesy Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

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