On Thursday, the New York Jets announced they had reached agreement on a contract extension with defensive tackle Quinnen Williams after an offseason’s worth of negotiations.

On Tuesday, the former Alabama All-American signed the four-year, $96 million contract extension with a pen engraved with a message from his past that fit the present occasion.

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Just before the Jets chose Williams with the third selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, he became a viral sensation when, during an interview, he sneezed, then politely said, “Bless you,” followed by, “Thank you.”

The engraving on Williams’ pen on Tuesday read “Bless you. Thank you.”

Williams was under contract to the Jets for the 2023 season because the team picked up its fifth-year option on the former Wenonah High School standout’s rookie contract last offseason. He was set to be paid $9.59 million for the 2023 season on the fifth-year option, but now will have a base salary of $1.094 million for the coming campaign under the contract extension, which could keep Williams with New York through the 2027 season.

The contract extension came with a $24.5 million signing bonus and $47.835 million guaranteed at signing, with another $15.509 million set to become guaranteed in March 2025.

In an offseason of big deals for defensive tackles, Williams became the second highest-paid player at the position in the NFL, behind the three-year, $95 million contract of the Los Angeles Rams’ Aaron Donald.

Williams earned All-Pro recognition for the first time in his career in 2022, when he recorded 55 tackles, 12 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, 28 quarterback hits, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He helped the Jets finished fourth among the NFL’s 30 teams in points allowed and yards allowed last season.

Williams did not participate in the Jets’ offseason program to emphasize his desire for a contract extension. He is scheduled to report for New York’s training camp with his teammates on Wednesday.

The Jets are scheduled to kick off the NFL’s preseason schedule against the Cleveland Browns in the annual Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 3.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.