Former Buccaneers' Receiver Passes Away After Reported Signs of Improvement

A former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver passed away after reportedly having been showing signs of improvement.

Kade Kimble | Sep 12, 2023

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As Tampa Bay Buccaneers should be happy, celebrating an upset win over the Minnesota Vikings this weekend, things just got sad, again.

Jay Recher reports that after a long, hard fought battle, Mike Williams has unfortunately passed away.

It had been reported that the former fourth-round pick had initially passed away after suffering an accident while working constructions, but the reports were off and Williams was on life support.

The injury came as a steel beam fell on Williams, causing major damage to the head and paralysis to his right arm and his waist down. After it was reported that Williams was alive and on life support, he then began to see improvements. Though, this wouldn't last long as he lost his battle.

The Syracuse product was drafted in the fourth-round of the 2010 draft, where he was able to string together an incredible rookie season -- falling just short of Sam Bradford for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Williams didn't play a long career, having played just four seasons with the Buccaneers, despite the quick start to his career. He caught 215 passes for 2,947 yards and 25 touchdowns during his time with Tampa Bay.

He played just one season with the Buffalo Bills before his career ended, tacking on an additional eight catches for 142 yards and one touchdown. After five seasons played, he last played in the NFL in 2014.

“He will be missed. He fought hard his whole life. Prayers to his family," Williams' agent Hadley Engelhard said.

This situation is incredibly sad for all. Rest in peace, Mike.

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Published Sep 12, 2023

KADE KIMBLE

Kade has been covering a wide variety of teams ranging from the NFL to the NBA and college athletics since joining Sports Illustrated's FanNation in 2022.