Veteran wide receiver Mike Williams is walking away from the NFL.
Williams informed the Los Angeles Chargers on Wednesday night that he has decided to retire, according to multiple reports.
Williams was drafted by the Chargers with the No. 7 overall pick in 2017. He played for L.A. for the first seven seasons of his career before spending brief periods with the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers last year.
After a down year in 2024, Williams rejoined the Chargers in March on a 1-year, $6 million deal. Williams had recently been placed on the physically unable to perform list.
Williams is only 30, so his decision to retire comes as somewhat of a surprise. It is possible that his health was a factor.
Williams had two 1,000-yard seasons with the Chargers. His best campaign was in 2021, when he had 76 catches for 1,146 yards and 9 touchdowns. Williams averaged 15.5 yards per reception during his eight-year NFL career.
The Jets signed Williams last offseason but traded him to Pittsburgh midway through the year. A few weeks before the trade, Aaron Rodgers publicly called Williams out over a supposed mistake Williams made on a key play late in one of New York’s losses.
Williams took a shot at Rodgers on social media after the receiver made a game-winning play with the Steelers.
