Former Bills WR Mike Williams' Cause of Death Revealed
Former Buffalo Bills receiver Mike Williams passed away in September due to a rare form of sepsis, per the Hillsborough County (Florida) Medical Examiner's report released on Friday.
More specifically, the report states that the exact cause of death was "bacterial sepsis with cerebral abscesses and necrotizing lobar pneumonia due to multiple dental caries and retained tooth roots." The condition is rare, as the Associated Press says it's the first time that a death in Hillsborough County has been attributed to it, but it is linked to poor dental health and infection.
The report also lists "Arteriosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease" as a contributing cause of death.
Mike Williams
© Andrew Weber, USA TODAY
Full autopsy and toxicology results are still unknown, as the report is only preliminary, but use of marijuana, alcohol (socially) and Kratom were mentioned.
A Buffalo-native, Williams first put himself on the map with an exceptional college career at Syracuse. In three seasons with the Orange, the receiver racked up 2,044 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns while averaging over 15 yards per catch.
Williams then entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2010. His rookie season was the best of his professional career, as he had 964 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns to finish as the runner-up for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Williams then returned to western New York to spend his fifth and final NFL season with the Bills. In nine games in Buffalo, Williams had eight receptions for 142 yards and one touchdown.
After being released by the Bills, Williams signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2016, attempting to make an NFL comeback. However, the Chiefs released him before the regular season began.
