A medical examiner’s report, which was made public on Friday, states that former NFL player Mike Williams passed away from an uncommon type of sepsis associated with dental health issues.
Williams, 36, passed away on September 12 after being admitted to the hospital following an electrical construction mishap.
After being selected in the 2010 Syracuse wide receiver draft, the player spent four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With 11 touchdowns and 964 receiving yards as a rookie, he led the team in scoring during his greatest season. Before quitting the NFL in 2016, he was a member of the Kansas City Chiefs’ roster and previously played for the Buffalo Bills.
The cause of Williams’ death, according to the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s report, was bacterial sepsis that was linked to a dental infection and “retained tooth roots.” The report is not final. Officials said on Friday that a complete autopsy, including toxicology and other details, will be made public later.
Cardiovascular illness is also included in the first report as a contributing factor to his death, which was described as natural.
The medical examiner’s office claims that this is the first instance of this particular form of oral infection being linked to a fatality in Hillsborough County.