Former NFL receiver Mike Williams, who had 26 touchdown receptions over a five-season career, mostly with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is on life support after a construction accident in the Tampa area.
HuffPost reported earlier that Williams had died, citing a confirmation on Williams’ death from a Buffalo TV station on Tuesday that cited multiple sources. A GoFundMe, written by the former player’s father, Wendell Muhammad, detailed Williams’ tragedy following an on-the-job mishap.
Williams sustained a “massive head injury” when a beam fell on his head, causing swelling in his brain and spine with near-complete paralysis, the father wrote. He “passed out” on Sept. 1 while encountering breathing problems and “never recovered consciousness.”
The mother of Williams’ 8-year-old daughter on Wednesday told the Tampa Bay Times that Williams was on life support and the family is weighing its options.
“They were waiting on me and (his daughter). We’re here and still trying to figure it out,” Tierney Lyle said outside the hospital.
“He was asleep when we went in there and he woke up when he heard our voices and his daughter’s voice,” Lyle said. “And he looked around, and he blinked and he was crying but he can’t move.”
Williams, who played college ball at Syracuse, entered the league in 2010 and was the Offensive Rookie of the Year runner-up with the Buccaneers. He played three more seasons in Tampa and even signed a $40.25 million contract extension with the team. He played for his hometown Buffalo Bills in his last NFL season in 2014. He finished his career with 3,089 receiving yards. Williams attempted a comeback with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2016 but was released.
“Dang man hurts my heart seeing the news of my former teammate and Buccaneers 2010 draft class brother Mike Williams,” ex-Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy wrote on X. “Always great energy, brought joy and laughter to the locker room and a heck of a player!! Prayers and blessings to his family!!”
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story stated incorrectly that Mike Williams had died after the construction accident. He is not dead and is currently on life support.