CORRECTION August 6, 2023: Originally this article incorrectly reported the death of former NFL wide receiver Mike Williams. Multiple other outlets reported the same, including Fox News, The Washington Post, and NBC Sports.
Since those reports, however, Williams’ family has clarified that he is still on life support. We apologize to Williams and his family for the error and offer our thoughts and prayers for healing and comfort.
Mike Williams, a former NFL star wide receiver and 2010 Rookie of the Year runner-up, was reported deceased at the age of 36.
Tuesday evening, Jon Scott of Spectrum News in New York was the first to report Williams’ death on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Multiple sources have confirmed to me that former Syracuse and #Bills WR Mike Williams has passed away following injuries suffered during an accident while working at a construction site,” Scott posted.
He added, “The Buffalo native was 36 years old.”
Multiple sources have confirmed to me that former Syracuse and #Bills WR Mike Williams has passed away following injuries suffered during an accident while working at a construction site.
The Buffalo native was 36 years old.
— Jon Scott (@JonScottTV) September 6, 2023
A GoFundMe account established for Wendell Muhammad, the father of Williams, provided details about the incident.
“My son played in the NFL from 2010 to 2014 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and his hometown team, the Buffalo Bills,” Muhammad said.
He added, “Mike Williams recently had a major accident at work. A [steel] 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.”
Williams’ father said the injuries sustained in the accident caused him to experience “complete paralysis” in one arm as well as in his lower body “from the waist down.”
Muhammad stated that the former wide receiver lost consciousness on September 1 and never regained consciousness despite the best efforts of physicians.
Williams’s father sought financial assistance to travel to Tampa to visit his hospitalized son.
Since the death of the former player was announced, the page has not been updated.
Williams grew up in Buffalo, New York, and attended Syracuse University for college. Between 2006 and 2009, he participated in 29 games and registered 133 receptions.
He departed college for the 2010 NFL Draft after accumulating an impressive 20 receiving touchdowns for his career.
The school said of Williams, “Williams was the top receiver on the football team. His freshman year he led the team in receptions. He was significantly better his sophomore season, tying the Syracuse season record for receptions with 60. He was named the football team MVP that season, along with earning second-team All-Big East football honors.”
He was selected in the fourth round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and spent four seasons with the organization.
Tuesday night, Williams’ former colleague Gerald McCoy posted on X about his passing.
“Dang man hurts my heart seeing the news of my former teammate and Buccaneers 2010 draft class brother Mike Williams,” McCoy wrote.
He concluded, “Always great energy, brought joy and laughter to the locker room and a heck of a player!! Prayers and blessings to his family!!”
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!! 🙏🏾😔
— Gerald McCoy (@Geraldini93) September 6, 2023
Williams was traded to the Buffalo Bills, his native team, for the 2014 season, his final in the league.
ESPN reports that he played in 63 NFL games and caught 223 receptions for 26 touchdowns during his career.