A medical examiner’s report released on Friday revealed that the late NFL player, Mike Williams, succumbed to a rare form of sepsis linked to dental health issues.

The 36-year-old, who tragically passed away on September 12, had been hospitalized following a construction accident during his work as an electrician.

Williams, renowned for his four seasons as a wide receiver with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, entered the NFL after being drafted from Syracuse in 2010. His standout rookie season included leading the team with 11 touchdowns and accumulating 964 receiving yards.

Subsequently, he also played for the Buffalo Bills and briefly featured on the Kansas City Chiefs’ roster before retiring from the NFL in 2016.

According to the preliminary report from the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner, Williams’ cause of death was bacterial sepsis stemming from a dental infection and “retained tooth roots.” The document outlines that cardiovascular disease was a contributing factor, categorized as natural causes.

The report emphasizes that this marks the first instance in Hillsborough County where a death has been attributed to this specific variant of dental sepsis.

While this preliminary report is available, a comprehensive autopsy, encompassing toxicology and additional details, is expected to be released later.

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