Former Steelers Wide Receiver Retires From NFL At Age 30

A recent Pittsburgh Steelers player abruptly retired at age 30 on Thursday.

The Los Angeles Chargers confirmed that Mike Williams informed them of his decision to retire. They thanked the wide receiver in a graphic posted on social media.

Williams was set to rejoin the Chargers, who drafted him as the No. 7 overall pick in 2017. He tallied a career-high 11 touchdowns in 2018, after not finding the end zone as a rookie, before registering 1,004 yards on just 49 catches the following year.

The 6-foot-4 wideout notched a career-high 76 receptions and 1,146 yards in 2021. Yet an ACL injury sidelined him three games into the 2023 season, ending his first Chargers stint.

Williams caught 12 of 21 targets for 166 yards in a limited role with the New York Jets, who sent him to Pittsburgh for a fifth-round pick last November. His 32-yard touchdown reception secured a 28-27 victory over the Washington Commanders in his Steelers debut.

That game-winning score marked the highlight of Williams’ Steelers run. He didn’t see any targets in the next three games and collected 132 scrimmage yards for his new team. Williams delivered a 37-yard catch among his nine snaps in Pittsburgh’s first-round playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

The Chargers reunited with Williams on a one-year deal earlier this offseason. They placed him on the physically unable to perform list this week, but general manager Joe Hortiz didn’t anticipate a lengthy absence.

“Just working through something small and could be out there any day,” Hortiz said Wednesday, per Chargers.com’s Eric Smith.

Williams instead retired before training camp, putting the Chargers in need of a pass-catching playmaker to team with young wideouts Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston. Amari Cooper and former Chargers star Keenan Allen remain available if the AFC West squad seeks a veteran replacement to help Justin Herbert in 2025.

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