Former NFL player Mike Williams’ unexpected death was shrouded in mystery as rumors circulated about how he passed away. However, officials recently confirmed that he died on September 12, leaving the door open for more details about the circumstances of his death.
Initially, it was reported that Williams had taken an accidental blow to the head at a construction site, leading to his hospitalization. However, it was later revealed that he was “fighting for his life,” raising suspicions that there was more to the story.
Recently, the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner Department released an official cause of death for Williams. According to the report, the ex-Tampa Bay Buccaneer died from “Bacterial Sepsis with Cerebral Abscesses and Necrotizing Lobar Pneumonia due to multiple Dental Caries and retained tooth roots.” In other words, Williams’ severe dental problems had led to infections spreading and growing pus around his brain. Initial tests showed brain swelling and infections.
Furthermore, Williams suffered from heart disease, leading to a cardiac arrest shortly after the construction accident on September 1. Fox 13 Tampa reported that his heart disease played a role in his death.
Williams was a talented player who made an immediate impact on the field. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected him in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft, and he quickly proved himself a valuable asset; in his rookie season, he led the team with 964 receiving yards, 65 receptions, and 11 touchdowns. His impressive campaign earned him a second-place honor for Offensive Rookie of the Year behind St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford.
The Bucs signed Williams to an extension worth almost $40 million before the 2013 season. However, his performance declined, and he only played in six games that year, causing the Buccaneers to trade him to the Buffalo Bills, his hometown team. Despite being in familiar territory, Williams was unable to take the next step in his career, and his highest receiving yards in a single season were 996 in 2012.