Amidst widespread speculation about the circumstances surrounding the death of former NFL player Mike Williams, officials officially disclosed the cause of death on Thursday while acknowledging the possibility of other contributing factors. Initially, reports on September 5 suggested that the former Tampa Bay Buccaneer had died from an accidental head injury at a construction site. However, subsequent revelations indicated that he was “fighting for his life.” Williams ultimately passed away on September 12, and the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner Department stated that the cause of death was “Bacterial Sepsis with Cerebral Abscesses and Necrotizing Lobar Pneumonia due to multiple dental caries and retained tooth roots.”
In essence, Mike Williams experienced the growth of pus around his brain due to severe dental problems, leading to the spread of infections. Initial examinations revealed brain swelling and infections. Fox 13 Tampa reported that heart disease also played a role, as he suffered a cardiac arrest shortly after the construction accident on September 1.
Tampa Bay drafted Williams in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft, and he quickly made a significant impact. During his rookie season, he led the team with 964 receiving yards, and his 65 receptions were just one short of tying for the team lead. Williams also scored 11 times, the highest on the team, earning him a second-place finish for Offensive Rookie of the Year, behind St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford.
Before the 2013 season, the Buccaneers signed him to a contract extension close to $40 million. However, his playing time was limited to just six games that year, and he was subsequently traded to the Buffalo Bills, his hometown team, where he spent one season. Unfortunately, he struggled to advance in his career, with his highest receiving yards in a single season being 996 in 2012.
