Mike Williams, the former standout wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Syracuse, passed away at the age of 36 following complications from a rare bacterial sepsis resulting from injuries sustained in a work-related construction accident on August 21. The Hillsborough County (Florida) Medical Examiner’s Office disclosed this information on Thursday.
On September 12, at 8:20 a.m. local time, Williams was taken off life support and succumbed to the severe condition. The official cause of death, as per the preliminary case summary report from the medical examiner’s office, was determined to be “bacterial sepsis with cerebral abscesses and necrotizing lobar pneumonia due to multiple dental caries and retained dental roots.” This uncommon condition is associated with poor dental health, decay, and infection, with arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease listed as a contributing factor in Williams’ passing.
Although the complete autopsy and toxicology results are pending, previous records indicate a history of marijuana use, social alcohol consumption, and regular use of Kratom, a legal herbal supplement with both stimulant and opioid effects. The report clarified that there was no evidence of foul play, attributing Williams’ death to natural causes.
Following his retirement from the NFL after a stint with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2016, Williams was employed by Exodus Electric Corp. in Tampa. He suffered head trauma when heavy supplies landed on him at a job site. Williams sought medical attention the following day and was admitted to the ICU with acute hypoxic respiratory failure, cardiac arrest, and sepsis resulting from multiple brain abscesses. Experiencing cardiac arrest on September 1, he underwent CPR, was intubated, and sedated. Transferred to hospice on September 7, Williams passed away five days later.
Selected as a fourth-round draft pick from Syracuse in 2010, Williams played for the Buccaneers from 2010 to ’13, setting a then-franchise record with 11 touchdowns in his rookie season. He was later traded to the Buffalo Bills in 2014, missing the 2015 season before joining the Chiefs in 2016.
