What was former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Williams’ cause of death?
The former Bucs wide receiver eventually succumbed to injuries suffered in a construction accident back in August. Now we know the details of his death.
Though the former wideout passed away in September after suffering a severe head injury in a construction accident during the summer, his exact cause of death was not known until now. It remains a sad day for family, friends and football fans. Mike Williams was 36 years old.
Mike Williams’ cause of death revealed
According to an announcement from the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office in Florida on Thursday, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Williams’ cause of death was “bacterial sepsis with cerebral abscesses and necrotizing lobar pneumonia due to multiple dental caries and retained dental roots,” a seemingly rare condition linked to poor dental health that leads to infections. In addition to the bacterial infection, Arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease was also listed as a contributing factor in Williams’ death.
What happened to Mike Williams?
As mentioned above, Williams was working at a construction site in the Tampa, Florida, area back in August, when he suffered a terrible head injury. After being rushed to hospital and admitted to the ICU, he was placed in an induced coma after the laceration on his head became badly infected. Ultimately, Williams was transferred to hospice care before his death which sadly occurred on September 12th. It is understood that a full autopsy and toxicology report are still pending, however, there is no suspicion of foul play.
Who was Mike Williams the football player?
A native of upstate New York, Williams enjoyed two stellar seasons at Syracuse before he was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. With the Bucs, he would go on to impress across four seasons, most notably his rookie year in which he posted a career-high 11 touchdowns to the tune of 964 receiving yards. In 2013, he signed a five-year extension with the Buccaneers but was traded to the Bills the following year after a string of off-field issues. When the curtain came down on his career, Williams had a total of 223 catches for 3,089 yards and 26 touchdowns. In a statement released by the Bucs at the time of his death, the team offered its condolences: “We are saddened to hear of the untimely death of Mike Williams, which has left our organization, his former teammates, and fans with heavy hearts. We send our deepest sympathies to his family and loved ones as they mourn this tragedy.”