NY POST – Former Syracuse standout and NFL wide receiver Mike Williams died after suffering from injuries in an accident at a construction site, according to Spectrum News 1 in Buffalo.
He was 36 years old.
A GoFundMe page set up by Latrina Moore said a steel beam struck Williams in the head while he was at work on Sept. 1.
The Buffalo native starred for Syracuse for three seasons before he was selected in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Buccaneers.
He went on to play four seasons with the Bucs before he was traded to his hometown Buffalo Bills in 2014 when he played his last regular season game … read more.
Michael Anthony Williams
Michael Anthony Williams (born May 18, 1987) is a former American football wide receiver who played for five seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Syracuse, and was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He also played for the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs.
College career
As a true freshman at Syracuse in 2006, Williams made 24 receptions for a team-leading 461 yards and four touchdowns in 10 games. As a sophomore in 2007 Williams was an all-Big East second-team selection. He finished the season tying a school record with 60 receptions for 837 yards and ten touchdowns in 12 games.
In June 2008, Williams was suspended for the 2008 season for academic reasons.
On November 3, 2009, Williams quit the team after he was involved in a car accident with teammates, Antwon Bailey, Andrew Tiller and Torrey Ball. He finished the 2009 season with 49 receptions for 746 yards and six touchdowns in seven games.
Professional career
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Williams was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth round (101st overall) in the 2010 NFL Draft. He was signed to a four-year contract on June 4, 2010.
On September 12, 2010, he made his NFL debut against the Cleveland Browns, making five receptions for 30 yards and a touchdown. In his first pro season, Williams became the first Buccaneer rookie to score a touchdown in back-to-back games since Carnell Williams in 2005. On October 31, 2010, Williams recorded first career 100-yard receiving game at Arizona, finishing with 105 yards on four receptions and a touchdown.
Williams started all 16 games as a rookie and had 65 receptions for 964 yards and 11 touchdowns. His 11 touchdowns marked a new Buccaneers franchise record for most receiving touchdowns in a single season.
After his rookie season, Williams finished second in voting for AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, and was a finalist for the NFL Pepsi Rookie of the Year. He was also named to The Sporting News NFL All- Rookie Team and PFW/PFWA All-Rookie Team and led all rookie receivers in the NFL in yardage (964), receptions (65) and touchdowns (11) in 2010.
In 2011, Williams caught 68 passes for 771 yards. Williams finished the 2012 season with a career-high in receiving yards with 996.
On July 24, 2013, it was reported that Williams had agreed to a new six-year, $40.25 million contract with the Buccaneers that would have kept him in Tampa Bay through the 2018 season. On October 28, the Bucs announced that they had placed Williams on injured reserve, ending his season and leaving the Buccaneers without one of their starting wideouts the rest of the way. Williams battled a hamstring injury for several weeks and finished the season with 22 catches for 216 yards and two touchdowns.
Buffalo Bills
On April 4, 2014, Williams was traded to the Buffalo Bills, his hometown team, for a 6th-round draft pick, just one season after signing a contract extension with the Buccaneers. On October 13, 2014, it was reported that Williams had asked the Bills for a trade. Williams was placed on the waived/injured list on December 8, 2014. He went unclaimed during the waiver process, and was placed on the Bills injured reserve list the next day. On December 22, 2014, Williams recovered from his calf injury and was released by the Bills.
Williams was suspended by the NFL for the first six weeks of the 2015 season on September 8, 2015.
Kansas City Chiefs
On April 25, 2016, Williams signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. On August 25, 2016, Williams was released by the Chiefs.
