Mike Williams, former pro football star and Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver, tragically succumbed to a rare form of bacterial sepsis and associated complications, ultimately losing his life on September 12. This came days after he was taken off life support following injuries sustained in a workplace accident in August. Williams, a dazzling figure in the Buccaneers’ lineup, passed away at the age of 36 in hospice care at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa.
The official cause of death, as per the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner Department, was determined to be “Bacterial Sepsis with Cerebral Abscesses and Necrotizing Lobar Pneumonia due to multiple Dental Caries and retained tooth roots.” This unique cause of death, dating back to the mid-1980s, is the only instance recorded in the county’s records. Arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease was listed as a contributing factor.
While a police investigation was initiated by the Tampa Police Department into the circumstances surrounding Williams’ death, it has now been closed. The case summary mentioned concerns from Williams’ friends and family regarding unprescribed drugs being brought to him during his hospital stay, complicating his recovery.
The complete autopsy and toxicology results are still pending, and the initial case summary indicated that Williams was described by his next of kin as consuming Kratom daily, a psychoactive substance derived from the leaves of a Southeast Asian tree.
Notably, bacterial sepsis of dental origin is a preventable condition but is not a common complication in adults. Dr. Cesar Augusto Migliorati, a professor at the University of Florida College of Dentistry, highlighted the connection between poor oral health and systemic health, emphasizing that issues in oral health can lead to problems in other parts of the body and organs.
