Former NFL Player Dies of Rare Dental-Related Sepsis

The 36-year-old’s cavities played a role in his death

Former NFL player Mike Williams died from a rare form of bacterial sepsis related to his dental health problems, according to a medical examiner's report released Friday.

Williams, 36, a wide receiver who played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Buffalo Bills, died on Sept. 12 after he was removed from life support in a hospice at a Florida hospital.

He’d been hospitalized since suffering workplace injuries in August while working as an electrician, the Tampa Bay Times reports .

The cause of Williams’ cause of death was "bacterial sepsis with cerebral abscesses and necrotizing lobar pneumonia due to multiple dental caries and retained dental roots," according to a preliminary report released Friday by the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office .

Tooth decay which Williams had played a role in the death, the examiner found. Sepsis occurs as a result of the body’s immune reaction to an infection. It is a serious condition that kills more than 250,000 Americans each year. In Williams’ case, the sepsis was linked to the development of a pus-filled pocket on his brain and severe tissue damage to his lungs.

Dental caries is a form of tooth decay and more commonly known as cavities. Sometimes, when a tooth is extracted, whether due to surgery or injury, the roots will be left behind. These roots are vulnerable to infection.

The report also cited cardiovascular disease as a contributing factor in his death, which the medical examiner listed as ‘natural.’

This is the first time that this type of dental sepsis has led to a death in Hillsborough County, the Tampa Bay Times reports, citing a department spokesperson.

A full autopsy will be released later and will include toxicology and other information, according to an ESPN report.

Williams played five NFL seasons, including four with the Buccaneers, after being selected by the team in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He accrued more than 200 receptions, 3,000 yards and 26 total touchdowns across his career. His football career ended after a short offseason stint with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2016.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.