Throughout the 2025 NFL season, SB Nation’s Doug Farrar writes about the game’s Secret Superstars — those players whose performances might slip under the radar for whatever reasons. In this installment,
we focus on Green Bay Packers backup quarterback Malik Willis, who has transformed himself from NFL bust to possible starting quarterback, based on what he’s shown in two seasons under Matt LaFleur’s tutelage.
The thing about quarterbacks is that when you need one, you’re willing to do just about anything to get one.
This is why quarterbacks are frequently (and sometimes drastically) overvalued in both the draft, and when they’re available in free agency. The 2026 class of draft quarterbacks may include Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Oregon’s Dante Moore — we don’t know yet — and even if it does, there are several QB-needy teams at and near the top of the draft order, which of course is a primary reason they’re at or near the top of the draft order.
The 2026 free agency class at the position isn’t exactly overflowing with clarity, and the good ones will most likely be retained. Daniel Jones of the Indianapolis Colts, and that Aaron Rodgers guy, lead the class right now, and beyond that, there’s the usual Russell Wilson, Zach Wilson, Marcus Mariota, Tyrod Taylor, and Joe Flacco group in the middle. Nobody you want as a franchise-defining guy.
Which is where one Malik Antonio Willis comes into the picture. Selected with the 86th overall pick in the third round of the 2022 draft out of Liberty by way of Auburn by the Tennessee Titans, Willis was a non-factor with his first NFL team, and the Titans traded him to Green Bay on August 26, 2024 for a seventh-round pick in the 2025 draft.
Of course, that turned into a bargain for the Packers when Willis replaced the injured Jordan Love in Week 1 of the 2024 season against the Philadelphia Eagles after Love suffered an MCL sprain, and completed 40 of 54 passes as the starter and backup that season. Willis was especially effective in his “revenge game” against the Titans in Week 3. Willis completed 13 of 19 passes for 201 yards, a touchdown, and a passer rating of 120.8, and he had several explosive throws on the day. Willis also showed off his athleticism with six runs for 73 yards and another score. In Green Bay’s 30-14 win, Willis looked every bit a starting-quality quarterback in Matt LaFleur’s offense.
Fast-forward to Green Bay’s Saturday night loss to the Chicago Bears (yeah, I know), when Willis replaced Love after Love suffered a concussion with 8:21 left in the second quarter. The Packers went with a heavy run plan for the rest of the second quarter, and then, with 12:12 left in the third quarter, Willis hit tight end Luke Musgrave for 26 yards on a crosser with receiver Christian Watson — his first of several pro throws on the day.
The coverage shifted post-snap, but Willis’ resolve to uncork a deep throw didn’t. Maybe Willis had a touchdown if he had hit Watson to the other side against Chicago’s busted Cover-2, but that’s another matter. When Willis identified safety Jaquan Brisker to the back side, he undoubtedly thought that Brisker was going to drop as the second deep safety, which Brisker didn’t until it was too late.
Willis’ 33-yard touchdown pass to receiver Romeo Doubs with 39 seconds left in the third quarter was another banger, and another throw in which his ultimate target was the third read. Here against Cover-1, Willis read Watson on the front side, running back Emanuel Wilson (another Secret Superstar this season) on the release route, and then, Doubs on the backdoor fade ball. It was a tough throw late in the progression, and Willis nailed it. This is what you want from a quarterback. The ball was delivered with ideal touch and velocity.
Willis’ 31-yard completion to receiver Jaylen Reed on second-and-7 with 9:15 left in overtime — certainly a high-pressure situation — is another example of how far Willis’ processing has come since his college and early NFL days. Here, he’s got Reed in the right slot, and the rules of Chicago’s Cover-2 changed when receiver Dontayvion Wicks motioned from left to right, and the Packers presented the three-man coverage to that side with three receivers. Now, safety Kevin Byard was matching Reed from the slot, and when Byard took a slow step inside, Willis pounced on it.
If you think about Willis’ future as an NFL quarterback, it’s more about these plays than it is about his running ability (which he’s always had) or a certain botched snap/handoff in overtime that set the Bears up to win. Unfortunately he suffered a shoulder injury in the game, which could complicate any more snaps he has in the 2025 season, but based on what he did against the Bears on Saturday night — 9 of 11 through the air for 121 yards, that touchdown, and a passer rating of 142.8, and 44 rushing yards on 10 attempts — I’d say that when it’s time for other NFL teams to look for at least a spot starter if not an outright competing starter on their rosters, Willis — who will be a free agent once the new league year kicks in — could get quite a few calls.
“I thought Malik went in there and did a hell of a job,” LaFleur said postgame. “He was poised. Made some plays with his legs. Made some plays with his arm. Made some off-schedule plays. I felt like the operation was pretty smooth, for the most part. But just not enough at the end, obviously.”
As for Willis, he’s just looking forward to whatever the next opportunity may be.
“I try not to worry about that type of thing,” he said, when asked whether he anticipated getting more practice reps as the Packers prepare to play the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday. “You look too far ahead, you miss what’s in front of you. Try to watch this film, be as honest as I can as far as what I was doing, where I could be better, and then we work together in figuring out what’s best for the team and how we’re going to do this thing.”
It’s wise for Willis to focus on the moment, even as he’s put enough good tape down to make the rest of the NFL wonder what he might be able to do elsewhere.
