Retired NFL receiver Mike Williams’ sudden death was the result bacterial sepsis caused by dental decay, Florida medical examiner rules four months after he passed away at 36
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Retired NFL star Mike Williams' death was the result of bacterial sepsis, a Florida medical examiner ruled Thursday.
Williams, a former wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Buffalo Bills, suffered a head injury in a construction accident on August 21. That injury led to acute hypoxic respiratory failure, cardiac arrest, multiple brain abscesses and ultimately sepsis.
The former Syracuse star was taken off life support on September 12 and died at age 36 of “bacterial sepsis with brain abscesses and necrotizing lobar pneumonia due to multiple caries and retained dental roots,” according to the Hillsborough County (Florida) Medical Examiner's Office .
The rare condition is linked to poor dental health.
Arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease – a build-up of fat and cholesterol on the artery walls of the heart – also played a role, according to the researcher.
Former NFL wide receiver Mike Williams died in September at the age of 36
There was no evidence of foul play, but Williams did use marijuana, alcohol and Kratom, a quasi-legal herb that has come under fire for safety concerns, according to ESPN.
The full autopsy results have not been shared publicly.
According to the investigator's report, Williams was working in construction when heavy goods landed on his head at a construction site.
He was taken to hospital the next day, where he later went into cardiac arrest.
After hospital staff successfully performed CPR, Williams was intubated and sedated.
He died five days later in hospice.
A native of Buffalo, Williams attended Syracuse before abruptly leaving the team in 2009 after a car accident with teammates.
Regardless, he was taken in the fourth round by the Bucs before averaging 64.3 catches and 7.6 touchdowns and 910.3 receiving yards per season over his first three years.
He was traded to his hometown Bills in 2014, but struggled with injuries and was out of the NFL entirely by 2016.
Williams reportedly leaves behind two children.