'Buffalo's Greatest Athlete’ Bills Ex Mike Williams Dies at 36

“Mike Williams is the greatest athlete in Buffalo history. ... He could literally do it all.'' ... Thoughts turn to mourning as the former Bills receiver passes away.

The family of former Buffalo Bills and NFL wide receiver Mike Williams is asking for continued assistance from "prayer warriors'' as the 36-year-old area native as been taken off a ventilator after having been placed on life support earlier this week following an accident at his workplace.

“We need prayer warriors to continue praying and spread the word,” said Tierney Lyle, the mother of Williams’ 8-year-old daughter.

Williams, a star athlete at Riverside High School in Buffalo, where he was named All-Western New York in both football and basketball, played for the Buccaneers, Bills and Chiefs during his NFL career. Williams was a collegiate standout at Syracuse, where earned All-Big East honors with the Orange in 2007 while also making contributions to the basketball team.

Williams, who is currently recovering at a Tampa-area hospital, was reportedly on the job doing electrical work when he was hit in the head by a beam. The injury was initially thought to not be life-threatening, but reportedly the issue grew more serious as the laceration became infected, which eventually led to Williams being induced in a coma earlier this month.

“Mike,'' said another local standout, Domonic Cook, who played at the University of Buffalo, "is the greatest athlete in Buffalo history. ... He could literally do it all.''

Williams appeared in nine games for the Bills, posting eight catches for 142 yards and one touchdown. His best game as a Bill came against the Houston Texans in Week 4 of that 2014 season, as Williams finished with two catches for 84 yards, most of which came on his 80-yard touchdown catch.

Williams finished his NFL career having appeared in 63 games (52 starts), while recording 223 grabs for 3,089 yards and 26 touchdowns.