TAMPA, Fla. — Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Williams has died, his agent told ESPN on Tuesday. He was 36 years old.
A source close to the family confirmed the news to 10 Tampa Bay sports director Evan Closky.
Willams reportedly suffered a serious injury recently at a construction site in Tampa and was left partially paralyzed.
Multiple media outlets, including 10 Tampa Bay and its sister stations, last week initially said Willams had died following reporting from Spectrum Sports and other sources.
The Tampa Bay Times spoke with the mother of his 8-year-old daughter, Tierney Lyle, who had left the hospital following the reports and said he was mostly non-responsive. He remained in the intensive care unit into the weekend and was breathing on his own after being removed from life support, according to the Times.
However, he continued to fight for his life. Williams reportedly grunted when his daughter said, "I love you, daddy."
Willams was drafted by the Buccaneers in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL draft and played only six games in his third year due to a hamstring injury, according to CBS Sports. He was traded to his hometown Buffalo Bills in 2014 before being released. Williams would eventually join the Kansas City Chiefs during the offseason in 2016 before being cut.