The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office has released a report detailing the cause of death of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Syracuse star wide receiver Mike Williams. The report revealed that Williams died as a result of a rare bacterial sepsis after suffering injuries in a work-related construction accident on August 21. The medical examiner’s office cited bacterial sepsis with cerebral abscesses and necrotizing lobar pneumonia due to multiple dental caries and retained dental roots as the primary cause of death, with arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease listed as a contributing factor. Williams had been removed from life support and passed away at the age of 36 on September 12.
In a tragic turn of events, the report indicated that the injury sustained during the construction accident may have exacerbated Williams’ overall health issues, particularly highlighting the impact of poor dental health, decay, and infection on his condition. While the extent of the injury’s role in his death remains unclear, it is evident that his compromised dental hygiene was a significant factor.
Williams, who spent four years in the NFL from 2010 to 2014, was working on a construction job in Tampa when he suffered a serious head injury. Following the incident, he was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital and later transferred to Suncoast Hospice, where he ultimately passed away.
The revelation of the specific factors contributing to Williams’ passing sheds light on the importance of maintaining dental health and overall well-being, especially for individuals engaged in physically demanding work. This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the potential consequences of neglecting dental care and the critical role it plays in overall health and prevention of severe medical complications.
