Former NFL wide receiver Mike Williams dies at 36: What was the cause of death?
The former Bucs wide receiver was fatally injured in a freak accident. His father has set up a GoFundMe account.
The NFL community is in mourning following the tragic death of Mike Williams, aged just 36. Born in Buffalo, New York, Williams attended Syracuse university and carved out his professional career at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs, earning a total of $11,848,250 before retiring from the game in 2016.
After his NFL career, Williams undertook a series of jobs to make a living and spent this summer working on a construction site when he was involved in a tragic accident. It is reported that Williams passed out after being struck on the head by a falling steel beam on 1 September. He was taken to the Intensive Care Unit where he was placed in a medically-induced coma.
Further details emerged when Williams’ father Wendell Muhammed set up a GoFundMe account to help him with expenses of travelling down from Buffalo to Tampa, Florida to be at his son’s bedside in hospital.
He explained: “Mike Williams recently had a major accident at work. A steal (sic) beam fell on his head causing a massive head injury. As a result of this accident, there was swelling on his brain and swelling on his spinal cord that was ruptured. These injuries resulted in complete paralysis in his right arm as well as his lower body from the waist down.
“On Friday, Sept 1, 2023 around 9pm Mike Williams passed out. According to doctors, he suffered from severe breathing problems and had to be rushed to ICU. This time the doctors found that his diaphragm was pressing on his lungs and subsequently caused complications with his breathing. They reported that his lungs were filled with water. The doctors were able to free the diaphragm from pressing on his lungs, removing the water and allowing him to breathe a little better. Sadly, my son Mike Williams never gained consciousness. He never woke up from the night of Sept 1, 2023 from what was reported to me as of Sept 4 2023″.
Spectrum News I reporter Jon Scott delivered the sad news that Williams had succumbed to his injuries and passed away on 5 September.
Several former players and fans have already expressed their condolences on social media. Former Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy wrote, “Dang man hurts my heart seeing the news of my former teammate and Buccaneers 2010 draft class brother Mike Williams. Always great energy, brought joy and laughter to the locker room and a heck of a player!! Prayers and blessings to his family!!”