1:42 PM PT — The mother of Mike Williams‘ daughter said Wednesday afternoon the former NFL player has not died … although she did say he is currently on life support inside a Florida hospital.
Tierney Lyle told the Tampa Bay Times … she and the couple’s daughter visited Williams Wednesday afternoon at the medical facility and he was “mostly non-responsive.”
“He was asleep when we went in there and he woke up when he heard our voices and his daughter’s voice,” Lyle said. “And he looked around, and he blinked and he was crying but he can’t move.”
Lyle told the outlet she was under the impression the plan was to take Williams off life support … though that has yet to happen.
Former NFL receiver Mike Williams– the Offensive Rookie of the Year runner-up in 2010 — has died following a recent accident at a construction site.
According to a GoFundMe page set up by Williams’ family, the ex-Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout suffered a “massive head injury” a few days ago when a steel beam fell on him … causing “complete paralysis in his right arm as well as his lower body from the waist down.”
Sadly, Williams’ family says his condition worsened in the ensuing days … and Spectrum News 1’s Jon Scott reported Monday he passed away.
He was just 36 years old.
News of his death Monday evening rocked the football world … with his former teammate, Gerald McCoy, tweeting he was devastated to learn of the passing.
“Dang man hurts my heart seeing the news of my former teammate and Buccaneers 2010 draft class brother Mike Williams,” McCoy said. “Always great energy, brought joy and laughter to the locker room and a heck of a player!! Prayers and blessings to his family!! 🙏🏾😔”
The Bucs picked Williams with a selection in the fourth round of the ’10 NFL Draft … and he went on to have an outstanding rookie season, finishing only behind Sam Bradford for OROY honors.
He would go on to play for three more seasons in Tampa, before he was traded to the Bills in 2014. He was never able to replicate the production he had as a rookie, however, and he bounced from the league after just one year in Buffalo.
The former Syracuse standout finished his career with 3,089 receiving yards and 26 receiving touchdowns in 63 total games.
RIP.
Originally Published — 6:08 AM PT
