Williams Named NFC Defensive Player of Month

Packers safety Evan Williams earned the honor for his October performance, which included two interceptions and 41 tackles across five games.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Football

Williams Named NFC Defensive Player of Month

Green Bay Packers safety Evan Williams was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month for October 2026. Williams recorded 41 tackles, one sack, three QB hits, two interceptions, four passes defensed and one fumble recovery in the Packers' five October games, which went 4-1.

Why it matters

The honor recognizes a third-year safety drafted in the fourth round in 2024 who has become a central defensive figure for the team. Williams' production adds to a recent Packers run, as a player from the team has now won the award for October three straight years.

Williams recorded 41 tackles, one sack, three QB hits, two interceptions, four passes defensed and one fumble recovery across the Packers' five October games. He leads the Packers with 66 total tackles and 43 solo tackles for the season, and is the only NFL player this season with 60-plus tackles and multiple interceptions.

The players

Evan Williams

Williams is a third-year Green Bay Packers safety who was a fourth-round draft pick in 2024.

Green Bay Packers

The Packers are an NFL franchise based in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and the team for which Williams plays safety.

The details

Williams followed an early interception and tackle for loss with blitzes on the Buccaneers' final possession that produced a fourth-down stop. He recorded a career-high 11 tackles against the Bears and a second interception in the game against the Cowboys.

October 2026: Williams named NFC Defensive Player of the Month after five games.
2024: Williams drafted by the Packers in the fourth round.
2025: Micah Parsons won NFC Defensive Player of the Month for October.
2024: Xavier McKinney won NFC Defensive Player of the Month for October.

Season Trajectory

Williams' award extends a run in which Packers defenders have won NFC Defensive Player of the Month for October in each of the last three years, following McKinney in 2024 and Parsons in 2025. The honor also places Williams among the league's leaders in tackles and interceptions during a season in which the Packers have built a 4-1 October record.

Williams' 66 total tackles and 43 solo tackles make him a leading option for fantasy and roster evaluation among defensive players this season. His two interceptions and four passes defensed add to his value in leagues that score turnovers and coverage production.

The takeaway

Williams' October performance shows how a fourth-round pick can grow into a primary defensive contributor, combining run defense, pass rush and coverage production. Fans tracking the Packers defense can watch his ongoing tackle and interception totals as the season continues.