Trick Williams Rejected NFL Return After Joining WWE

Trick Williams had a chance to go back to the NFL—but he walked away from it in the middle of an NXT shoot, making it clear WWE is where he truly belongs.

While speaking on The Mack Down Report, Williams revealed that he actually had a chance to return to the NFL after already joining WWE—but made a split-second decision that shut that door for good. He explained that the moment happened early in his NXT run, during the filming of a vignette with Carmelo Hayes, when he suddenly got an unexpected call.

“Oh man—so I’ll tell you, I never told this story before. It’s crazy. While at NXT, we were filming a barbershop vignette—with myself and Carmelo Hayes. This is like 2021, maybe 2022—early on.”

Right in the middle of that shoot, Williams said his phone rang—and it wasn’t just anyone on the other end. Instead of entertaining the opportunity, Williams revealed he brushed it off almost immediately—choosing WWE in the moment without hesitation.

“At this point, I’m probably like three years out of football. And right before we shoot this vignette, the New York Jets call me. Like, ‘Hey man—you know Trick Williams? I’m not sure if you remember me, I scouted you back then—we were this, we were that—I was just seeing how you’re doing, seeing how everything is working.’. I’m like, ‘Uh, excuse me, I’m in the middle of something—got to go.’”

That interaction, as simple as it sounded, ended up being the turning point where he knew his football career was officially behind him: “And that’s when I knew my football career was done.” Looking back, Williams made it clear the decision wasn’t difficult—because by that point, he had already fully committed to his new path. He also explained that his mindset has shifted from chasing a football dream to embracing the spotlight of sports entertainment.

“But I was so far gone, man. I’m a superstar now. And I respect football—I played football for 20 years. I respect the game. I played with some greats, under some great coaches. But I love what I do now. I’m an athlete. I’m an entertainer.”

And in a full-circle moment, Williams connected that decision to where he is now—performing on one of the biggest stages possible in wrestling, at WrestleMania 42 inside Allegiant Stadium.

“I always said I wanted to perform at the Super Bowl—and perform at halftime as well. And that’s what I’m doing on the 18th and then the 19th you know at WrestleMania. You know what I mean? On the biggest stage of them all right there in Allegiant Stadium.”

What could’ve been a return to the NFL turned into a defining moment instead—one that confirmed Williams was all-in on WWE, long before he became one of its rising stars.

So what do you think—did Trick Williams make the right call choosing WWE over a possible NFL return, or should he have taken that shot? Drop your thoughts below.

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