Former Steelers Wide Receiver Abruptly Retires After Brutal 2024 Downfal

The time comes for every player to finally hang up their cleats and call it an NFL career. For former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Williams, that time is now. On Thursday, ESPN's Adam Schefter announced that Williams is officially retiring from the NFL after eight seasons.

Williams was the seventh overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. The 30-year-old entered the league with players like T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett. Despite his former draft status, Williams failed to land back on his feet during the 2025 free agency period, and he's calling it quits.

Williams, a Clemson product in college, was hit with the injury bug early and often in his NFL career. The big wide receiver suited up for just 10 games as a rookie, and he ultimately managed to play a full season just twice in his eight seasons.

Early in his career with the Chargers, Williams broke the 1,000-yard milestone twice, but his production flatlined after suffering a season-ending knee injury in 2023.

The veteran made history last year when he joined Leonard Williams as one of the only players in the history of the league to play 18 regular-season games in one year. This was made possible thanks to being traded from the Jets to the Steelers near the trade deadline. Williams forfeited his bye week and kept on playing with his new team.

Pittsburgh Steelers won't be getting a Mike Williams reunion in 2025 (and that's okay)

Unfortunately, fans could tell that this wasn't the same Mike Williams in 2024 that we saw for most of his career. Following the knee injury, Williams was zapped of all explosiveness, and he struggled to create separation, both for the Jets and the Steelers last year.

Despite playing in 18 games and earning 472 offensive snaps, Williams caught just 21 passes on 34 targets for 298 yards and one touchdown. After joining the Steelers via trade, many thought Williams would emerge as the team's No. 2 wide receiver. But that wasn't the case.

Though Williams made a pivotal, clutch touchdown catch late in the fourth quarter to upset the Washington Commanders, his presence on the field was non-existent last year. Williams went a three-game stretch without even earning a single target in the passing game, and over his final four games with the Steelers, he caught just five passes for 64 yards.

Mike Williams finished his brief Steelers career with nine receptions and 132 yards, and a touchdown in nine games. Williams never earned a Pro Bowl, but he will be best remembered for his accomplishments on the LA Chargers in his first six seasons, and his career year in 2021 that included 76 receptions, 1,146 yards, and nine touchdowns.