Mike Williams

Mike Williams Bio

Mike Williams is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Los Angeles Chargers. He played college football for the Clemson Tigers and was selected by the Chargers with the seventh overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Williams also played for the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers before returning to finish his career with the Chargers.

Early Life and Background

Mike Williams was born on October 4, 1994, in Holly Hill, South Carolina. He attended Lake Marion High School and Technology Center in Santee, South Carolina, where he developed into a highly regarded football prospect. As a high school junior, Williams recorded 66 receptions for 1,296 yards and 11 touchdowns. He followed that performance with 60 receptions for 1,395 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior.

Williams was rated as a four-star recruit by Rivals.com and attracted attention from multiple college programs. He ultimately chose to continue his football career at Clemson University, one of the premier college football programs in the nation.

College Career at Clemson

Williams played for the Clemson Tigers from 2013 to 2016. As a true freshman, he appeared in all 13 games with three starts, finishing with 20 receptions for 316 yards and three touchdowns. He earned a starting role as a sophomore in 2014, where he recorded 57 receptions for 1,030 yards and six touchdowns, earning Second-team All-ACC honors.

The 2015 season was derailed when Williams suffered a neck injury in the season opener against Wofford. He caught a touchdown pass from quarterback Deshaun Watson but collided with the goal post and fractured a bone in his neck. The injury forced him to miss the remainder of the season, and he received a medical redshirt.

Williams returned as a redshirt junior in 2016 and reclaimed his starting role. He started all 15 games and led the team with 98 receptions for 1,361 yards and 11 touchdowns, earning First-team All-ACC recognition. In the National Championship Game against Alabama, Williams caught eight passes for 94 yards and one touchdown as Clemson defeated Alabama 35-31 for the national title. He completed his bachelor’s degree in sociology in December 2016 and announced he would enter the 2017 NFL Draft after the championship victory.

Mike Williams Career

Los Angeles Chargers (2017-2023)

The Los Angeles Chargers selected Mike Williams with the seventh overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He was the second wide receiver selected in that draft. On May 11, 2017, the Chargers signed Williams to a fully guaranteed four-year contract worth $19.74 million with a $12.50 million signing bonus. Due to a back injury sustained during the pre-season, Williams missed significant training camp and was inactive for the first six games of the regular season. He made his professional debut in Week 6 and finished his rookie season with 11 receptions for 95 yards in ten games.

Williams showed significant improvement in his second season. In Week 2 of the 2018 season, he recorded his first professional touchdown in a victory over the Buffalo Bills. Against the Los Angeles Rams the following week, he had four receptions for 81 yards and two touchdowns. In Week 15 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Williams caught seven passes for 76 yards and two touchdowns, plus a rushing touchdown, including a late go-ahead two-point conversion with four seconds left in a 29-28 comeback victory. He earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for his performance and finished the 2018 season with 43 receptions for 664 yards and ten touchdowns.

In 2019, Williams recorded 49 receptions for 1,001 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He led the NFL in yards per reception with 20.4 that season. His 2020 season included a notable performance in Week 5 against the New Orleans Saints with five catches for 109 yards and two touchdowns on Monday Night Football. In Week 16 against the Denver Broncos, Williams recorded his first career interception on a Hail Mary attempt with no time left to secure a 19-16 victory.

Breakthrough Seasons (2021-2022)

Williams had a breakout season in 2021. In Week 3 against the Kansas City Chiefs, he had seven receptions for 122 yards and two touchdowns. In Week 5 against the Cleveland Browns, he recorded eight receptions for 165 yards and two touchdowns. He finished the 2021 season with career highs in receptions with 76, targets with 129, and yards with 1,146 while scoring nine touchdowns. He developed a strong rapport with emerging quarterback Justin Herbert.

On March 8, 2022, Williams signed a three-year contract extension worth $60 million with the Chargers. His 2022 season featured several strong performances, including eight receptions for 113 yards against the Chiefs and ten receptions for 134 yards against the Browns. In the final minutes of the regular season finale against the Denver Broncos, Williams suffered a small transverse process fracture in his back that forced him out of the Chargers’ lone playoff game, which they lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He finished the 2022 season with 63 receptions for 895 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games.

Final Seasons and Retirement (2023-2025)

The 2023 season ended early for Williams when he suffered an ACL tear in Week 3 against the Minnesota Vikings. The injury occurred in the third quarter and ended his season after only 19 receptions for 249 yards and one touchdown. On March 13, 2024, the Chargers released Williams, ending his seven-year tenure with the team.

On March 19, 2024, Williams signed a one-year contract with the New York Jets. His time with the Jets was challenging. In Week 6, quarterback Aaron Rodgers publicly criticized Williams for running the wrong route that resulted in a game-clinching interception in a loss to the Buffalo Bills. Williams finished his Jets tenure with 12 receptions for 166 yards in nine games.

On November 5, 2024, the Jets traded Williams to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Five days after being traded, Williams caught a 32-yard game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter against the Washington Commanders as the Steelers won 28-27. Combined with the Jets, he had 21 receptions for 298 yards and one touchdown in 2024.

On March 12, 2025, Williams returned to the Los Angeles Chargers on a one-year contract worth $6 million. He was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list on July 14. On July 17, Williams informed the Chargers of his retirement from professional football, concluding an eight-year NFL career.

Mike Williams Career Statistics

Williams concluded his professional career with 330 receptions for 5,104 receiving yards and 32 receiving touchdowns across eight seasons. He also recorded one career interception on a punt return attempt. His best statistical season came in 2021 when he set career highs with 76 receptions, 1,146 yards, and nine touchdowns while forming a productive connection with quarterback Justin Herbert.

In four seasons at Clemson from 2013 to 2016, Williams appeared in 41 games and recorded 175 receptions for 2,707 yards and 20 touchdowns. His most productive college season was his redshirt junior year in 2016 when he led the team with 98 receptions, 1,361 yards, and 11 touchdowns during their national championship run.

Mike Williams Achievements

Beyond his NFL career statistics, Williams achieved notable success at the collegiate level. He was part of the Clemson Tigers team that won the College Football Playoff National Championship in 2016, defeating the University of Alabama 35-31 in the title game. He earned First-team All-ACC honors in 2016 and Second-team All-ACC honors in 2014.

In the NFL, Williams was selected seventh overall in the 2017 NFL Draft and earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors following his standout performance against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 15 of the 2018 season. He led the NFL in yards per reception with 20.4 during the 2019 season. His professional career included stints with three NFL franchises, and he retires as a player who made significant contributions during his peak seasons with the Chargers.