Former Bucs receiver Mike Williams, 36, dies

TAMPA — Former Bucs receiver Mike Williams, who was injured in a construction accident and removed from life support last week, died Tuesday morning at St. Joseph’s Hospital.

Tierney Lyle, the mother of Williams’ 8-year-old daughter Mya, said he was removed from a ventilator last Thursday per his wishes.

“Mike passed away this morning,” Lyle said in a text to the Tampa Bay Times on Tuesday.

Agent Hadley Engelhard also confirmed that Williams, 36, had died.

“We are saddened by the untimely death of Mike Williams, which has left our organization, his former teammates and fans with heavy hearts,” the Bucs said in a statement. “We send our deepest sympathies to his family and loved ones as they mourn this tragedy.”

Williams was injured in a construction accident two weeks ago in Hillsborough County. Lyle said he was partially paralyzed. Lyle and Mya visited Williams at least twice last week.

“I did see him,” Lyle said last Wednesday. “I talked to him. We cried. It’s like he knew we were there.”

A fourth-round pick out of Syracuse in 2010, Williams burst onto the scene with 964 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns. That made him an NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year finalist.

He played only four seasons in Tampa Bay before being traded to his hometown Buffalo Bills in 2014. He finished his career spending part of 2016 with the Kansas City Chiefs in the offseason. Before the NFL, he was a two-sport standout at Riverside High School in Buffalo, then earned a scholarship at Syracuse.

Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who played with the Bucs from 2010-18, tweeted that Williams “always was a fighter. 4th rd pick to rookie of the year finalist, got new contract, and lived out his dream as an NFL player. One thing for sure he loved his family and for sure that baby girl!! Sending love and prayers to my brother and his family!!”

Williams also had a son, 10-yearold Mike Jr.