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Editor update: On Wednesday, September 6 just before 5:00 p.m. Eastern time, a new report from Michael Schwartz of Buffalo’s WKBW 7 revealed that former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Williams is not dead, according to his agent.
Per Schwartz, Williams remains hospitalized in Tampa, Florida after a “construction accident,” and his family has requested the removal of a GoFundMe page that has circulated the internet.
Original story below:
Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Williams has died at age 36, according to Jon Scott of Spectrum News in Buffalo on Tuesday, September 5.
“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,” wrote Scott on Tuesday. “The Buffalo native was 36 years old.”
Mike Williams Made Impact During Rookie Season With Buccaneers
The Buffalo native is best known for his tenure with the Buccaneers, spending four seasons with the franchise after he was selected in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL draft.
The Buffalo native immediately made an impact during his rookie season, catching 65 passes — one shy of the team lead — and posting 964 receiving yards along with a team-leading 11 touchdown catches. His 11 touchdown catches ranked fourth in the NFL that season and his performance led to him finishing as the Offensive Rookie of the Year runner-up to Sam Bradford.
His performance was so impressive during his rookie season that he was named the 83rd-best player on the NFL’s Top 100 Players list in 2011.
Following a 2012 performance that saw Williams post similar numbers compared to his rookie season — he posted 63 catches for 996 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns during the 2012 season — he signed a six-year, $40.2 million contract extension with the Buccaneers.
However, Williams went through an injury-plagued 2013 campaign, as he was limited to just six games due to a hamstring injury. Shortly after the season, Tampa Bay traded Williams to his hometown team, the Buffalo Bills. However, Williams posted just eight receptions for 142 receiving yards and one touchdown in nine games as a reserve during the 2014 season.
Midway through the 2014 season, Williams requested a trade. However, he remained with the team until he was placed on the waived/injured list before the end of the regular season after going unclaimed on waivers.
Williams’ last stint in the NFL was as an offseason member of the Kansas City Chiefs during the 2016 season.
He also had a prolific career at Syracuse, as he was named a Second-Team All-Big East selection during the 2007 season after tying a single-season school record with 60 receptions for 837 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Williams’ 20 career receiving touchdowns are also tied with Indianapolis Colts great Marvin Harrison for second on the all-time list.
The 6-foot-1 Williams ended his NFL career with 223 receptions for 3,089 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns in 63 games, including 215 receptions for 2,947 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns with the Buccaneers.
Ex-Bucs QB Tom Brady Shuts Down Comeback Rumors
It looks like Tom Brady has no plans of coming out of retirement.
Brady doubled down on his commitment to retirement while speaking on the “Let’s Go!” podcast on Monday, September 4.
“There’s a lot of blood, sweat and tears and being out there in a hundred-degree heat in Miami, and it’s hard in Tampa when you got helmets and shoulder pads on,” said Brady. “And I am very excited to never put on a helmet again. I did enough years of that and putting that six-pound helmet on your head in 102-degree heat, believe me. I’m not ever gonna miss that.”
The former Buccaneers quarterback spent three seasons in Tampa Bay, leading the franchise to a Super Bowl win at the conclusion of the 2020 season. He announced his retirement — for the second time — following the conclusion of the 2022 season.
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