UPDATE: Former NFL Player NOT DEAD, Despite Reports Saying Otherwise

Yesterday WLT reported that former NFL player Mike Williams’ died at the age of 36 following a construction accident.

The story was sourced by both Fox News and The New York Post and contained quotes from those who were closest to Williams.

This morning there was a new development and a correction of the story released by Fox News.

According to the new report, Williams is not dead but is currently unresponsive and is on life support.

𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: Despite the report stating that Mike Williams had passed away, Williams is ALIVE but on life support and largely unresponsive, Williams’ agent told @_MLFootball

When his 8 year old daughter visited him in the hospital, he began crying and could not move at all.… pic.twitter.com/riT8SlBxTh

— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) September 6, 2023

Here’s what Fox News reported:

Mike Williams, a former NFL wide receiver who played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Buffalo Bills during his career, reportedly remained in the hospital following an accident at a construction site.

Williams, 36, was described as “fighting for his life” in a Florida-area hospital, according to Spectrum News 1 in Buffalo, citing the player’s agent Hadley Engelhard. WGRZ-TV reported Williams was on life support. Both outlets initially reported the player had died on Tuesday night.

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Tierney Lyle, the mother of Williams’ 8-year-old daughter, told the Tampa Bay Times that the player was “mostly non-responsive” when they visited him earlier Wednesday. She said he woke up for a brief moment, “looked around, and he blinked and he was crying but he can’t move.”

Reps for Williams did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

A GoFundMe linked to Williams’ father said the player had a “major accident” at work last Friday. The page said a steel beam “fell on his head causing a massive head injury” and that there was swelling on his brain and swelling on his spinal cord that was ruptured.” The injuries resulted in Williams being paralyzed in his right arm and his body from the waist down.

Williams passed out and “never regained consciousness,” according to the GoFundMe. He was placed into a coma on Sunday.

HEARTBREAKING: Former #Buccaneers and legendary Syracuse wife receiver Mike Williams is NOT DEAD, his agent Hadley Engelhard tells me, but Mike is on life support, largely unresponsive, but when his 8-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER visited him he started CRYING but could not move at all… pic.twitter.com/qgqophE0r9

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) September 6, 2023

Per SI:

Several reports came out Tuesday evening indicating former Syracuse wide receiver Mike Williams had passed away at age 36. However, now there is reporting citing his family and agent that says Williams had not passed but is on life support as a result of a construction site accident. The Tampa Bay Times quoted the mother of Williams’ eight year old daughter, Tierney Lyle.

“He was asleep when we went in there and he woke up when he heard our voices and his daughter’s voice,” Lyle said. “And he looked around, and he blinked and he was crying but he can’t move.”

Jon Scott of Spectrum News in Buffalo’s report was picked up by nearly every major media outlet Tuesday night.

The Tampa Bay Times report Wednesday that Williams is still alive was also confirmed by Michael Schwartz of WKBW in Buffalo, citing Williams’ agent.

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Williams, a Buffalo native, was one of the most talented and productive wide receivers in Syracuse football history. Over three seasons, Williams caught 133 passes for 2,044 yards and 20 touchdowns. At one point, he caught a touchdown pass in nine straight games, setting a school record. Williams currently ranks ninth in school history in total receptions, eighth in total yards and is tied for second with Marvin Harrison in touchdown receptions.

Update: Former #Bucs, #Bills WR Mike Williams is currently on life support following construction accident, an hasn't passed, via @NFLSTROUD , who corrected a report by @JonScottTV

It's an inevitable process, according to @JA17MVP but currently Mike Williams is still alive… pic.twitter.com/FSiDvqB9cw

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 6, 2023