Jul 27, 2024; Florham Park, NJ, USA; New York Jets cornerback Qwan'tez Stiggers (37) runs up the field with teammates greeting fans during training camp at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: New York Jets Training Camp
(Florham Park, NJ) – Taken in the 5th round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Qwan’tez Stiggers became the first player from the Canadian Football League (CFL) to be drafted into the NFL. Stiggers never played a down of college football, and his story is even more inspiring off the field.
The Georgia native went a few hours north for school, attending Division II Lane College before his freshman football season was canceled due to COVID. His father passed away in September of that year after spending months in a coma, and Qwan’tez took a step away from school and football to work in order to support his mother and family.
Stiggers would go on to play in the CFL, and after snagging five picks as a rookie with the Toronto Argonauts, he became just the third player in NFL history to be drafted without attending college.
Now in New Jersey, the young defensive back is eager to learn and proving it with his play. Head coach Robert Saleh is quite pleased with what he has seen so far. “I think he’s just got great patience at the line of scrimmage. He’s very smart…so instinctive ahead of his years with regards to route recognition and understanding concepts.”
On a team with the best defensive backs in the league, playing time is hard to come by when Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed, and Michael Carter II are all on their game, but Stiggers is taking in the experience learning from the veteran stars and will be waiting in the wings for his shot.
“Honestly those guys [Garder and Reed] are just like our teachers. Like D.J. sits right here, Sauce sits right here. I sit right in the middle” said Stiggers. “Whatever they ask, I’m writing down, and I’m asking [them] questions.”
There’s no question that the Jets have been gearing up for a Super Bowl run, but the energy in the facility trickles down from the 77 year-old owner Woody Johnson all the way down to the 22 year-old rookie Stiggers.
He has made a number of plays during training camp, and everyone from Saleh to cornerbacks coach Tony Oden is excited to work with him. Stiggers believes the Jets are “one of the best teams in the NFL…and we’re building something special.”
