UPDATE: This story stated that Williams died from his injuries, based on initial reports. Its headline and text have been corrected to reflect that he is currently on life support.
Former NFL wide receiver Mike Williams was seriously injured in a construction accident in Buffalo, New York, on Tuesday, placing him on life support.
Williams, a 36-year-old Buffalo native, was a fourth-round pick out of Syracuse by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2010. Williams achieved success quickly in the NFL. He led the Bucs in both receiving yards (964) and touchdowns (11). According to the mother of his eight-year-old daughter, Williams is currently in the intensive care unit at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, Florida.
Those numbers earned him second place in the race for Offensive Rookie of the Year that season. The Buffalo native followed up his rookie success with a stellar 2012 campaign of 996 yards and nine touchdowns, which helped him win a six-year $40.25 million contract after that season.
However, Williams later found himself traded to the Bills for a sixth-round pick.
Longtime Buc Gerald McCoy paid tribute to his former teammate on X.
Williams’ last stint in the NFL was on the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad in 2016.
Mike Williams #19 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is congratulated by Josh Freeman #5 after he scored a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on November 21, 2010, in San Francisco, California. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
As for his college career, his 20 touchdowns at Syracuse are tied for the second-most in school history, alongside Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison.
In all, Williams compiled 3,089 yards and 26 touchdowns in his career.
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