Jets rookie CB Qwan'tez Stiggers found rare route to the NFL

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The first time Qwan’tez Stiggers put on his shiny new green-and-white helmet, he thought about what he had overcome to reach the NFL. As he ran onto the Jets’ practice field, he felt the presence of an angel.

“When I got here and put my helmet on, I was like, ‘I’m here,’  ” Stiggers said. “Then out there running, I felt like my dad was out there with me. We’re here.”

The path to the NFL for Stiggers, 22, has been a remarkable journey filled with tragic loss, severe depression, unwavering support and a will to never give up.

Stiggers, a 6-foot cornerback, never played college football. But his love for the game, mental toughness, faith and overall skills led the Jets to draft him in the fifth round on April 27.

“It’s still surreal for me,” he said during Jets rookie minicamp. “Never thought I’d be here.”

A family tragedy put Stiggers’ NFL dreams on hold.

His father was in a car accident in February 2020. After several months in a coma, he died that September. At the time, Stiggers was just beginning his freshman year at Lane College, a Division II school in Jackson, Tennessee.

Stiggers dropped out and went home to Atlanta to be with his family. He needed them as much as they needed him.

“After my dad passed, I didn’t come out of my house for six months,” Stiggers said. “I was in the house, getting fat, eating ice cream.”

The support and advice of his mother, fiancee and 13 siblings got him going again, and eventually back to football.

First, Stiggers went to work to help support his family. He sold cars, washed cars, was a mechanic and worked at Walmart and for DoorDash and Instacart.

His mother, Kwanna Stiggers, helped her son return to football.

She was scrolling Facebook and came across the Atlanta-based 7-on-7 Fan Controlled Football League. It featured some former NFL players, including Terrell Owens and Johnny Manziel. Qwan’tez tried out, was offered a contract and made a quick impact.

According to Stiggers, he had three interceptions and a touchdown in his first game.

“It might sound unbelievable,” he said. “Look it up.”

His five interceptions tied for the league lead in 2022. You could say Stiggers’ dreams of playing in the NFL were “pick-started” again.

“I thank God and I thank my mom for [getting me to] sign up for Fan Controlled Football,” Stiggers said.

Stiggers’ next stop was the Canadian Football League. His coach in the Fan Controlled League, John Jenkins, a former Toronto Argonauts assistant, sent game video of Stiggers to his former colleagues. The Argonauts signed Stiggers, and he was the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie in 2023 after intercepting five passes, breaking up five more and finishing with 53 tackles.

The day Stiggers won the award, his agent informed him that he was NFL Draft-eligible. The Jets scouted him at the East-West Shrine Bowl, had him in for an official visit and were impressed with Stiggers’ story.

Their connection was immediate.

Defensive backs coach Tony Oden prank-called Stiggers before the draft. Before identifying himself, Oden joked that he was from the IRS and wanted to make sure Stiggers paid his Canadian taxes.

The Jets posted video of the call they made to Stiggers just before drafting him, and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich got emotional.

“He’s just a real authentic guy,” general manager Joe Douglas said. “He’s been through the rigors of life that some kids his age haven’t been through. There’s been plenty of opportunities for ’Tez to say, ‘You know what, maybe this isn’t for me. Things aren’t working out.’ His persistence, his attitude never wavered. For him to be in the position he’s in now, it’s such a big credit to him and his makeup.”

Robert Saleh echoed that.

“The reason why we don’t think he’ll fail is his mindset,” the coach said. “He’s got a unique makeup. You can put him up against any corner with regards to athleticism and all that. It’s his strain and his mindset that we’re really excited about.”

Late last season, Stiggers received calls from NFL teams, including the Giants, Seahawks and Steelers, but he believes the Jets are where he belongs.

“I just feel like I’m home, honestly,” Stiggers said. “I might not have gone in the round I wanted to go in, but I love that the Jets selected me.”

Just being in the NFL is not enough for Stiggers, though. He wants to show the teams that passed on him that they made a mistake. He’s had this mentality since high school, and it’s served him well.

“I’m going to make [teams] pay,” Stiggers said. “They’re going to have to pay all year.”

He’s here.

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.