The Green Bay Packers enjoyed a stellar October month which saw them win four of their five matches to bring themselves up to 5-3 for the season. And well, as a result of what has been an impressive season thus far, safety Evan Williams was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month for October after recording 41 tackles, two interceptions, four passes defended, one sack, three quarterback hits and a fumble recovery.
Williams himself credited the red-hot Packers defence for the award, per a post on X by Matt Schneidman.
“Pretty good, pretty good, it's definitely a blessing man, even be considered for something like that,” he said. “I feel like it’s really more of a group award than anything. We say when we’re all succeeding, that’s when individuals start to see success … it’s a blessing to receive some recognition like that.”
Williams was selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft, and is currently having a breakthrough year. Williams became the third safety since 2000 to record at least 40 tackles and three takeaways in a single month, and the first to accomplish the feat since 2011.
Williams posted a 90.9 overall defensive grade in October, the highest among NFL defenders, while recording 31 solo tackles, six pressures, 10 defensive stops and three turnovers. He allowed just seven completions for 58 yards on targets in coverage, surrendered no touchdowns and gave up a passer rating of 21.1.
Williams received his first Defensive Player of the Month award and became the third Packers safety to win the NFC honor, joining Xavier McKinney in 2024 and Atari Bigby in 2007. Green Bay has now had a player win the October award in three consecutive years, with Micah Parsons receiving it in 2025 and McKinney in 2024.
The Packers will now travel to Gillette Stadium to take on the New England Patriots, and will hope to continue their stellar run in November.