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Ex-Michigan players said same thing after Mike Williams retired

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Larry Brown | Last updated Jul 18, 2025 7:47 PM ET

Some former Michigan Wolverines players said the same thing after Mike Williams surprisingly retired this week.

The news emerged on Thursday that Williams had told the Los Angeles Chargers he was retiring. The news came as a surprise to the Chargers, who had signed him to a 1-year, $6 million deal in March. He had been placed on the physically unable to perform list this week because of an issue he had during the offseason.

Former Michigan players Jourdan Lewis and Jabrill Peppers think they know what really happened. The two played for Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, and know how tough and serious the former Wolverines coach’s program is. They feel like Williams experienced one day of Harbaugh’s program and decided to retire.

“Mike Williams had one day of Harbaugh’s camp and said this it,” Lewis wrote in a post on X, along with several crying laughing emojis.

Mike Williams had one day of Harbaugh’s camp and said this it .
— Jourdan Lewis (@JourdanJD) July 17, 2025

Peppers said he had the same thought.

I said the same thing https://t.co/aXwWtUBs6g
— JP5 (@JabrillPeppers) July 18, 2025

Lewis is a defensive back with the Jaguars, while Peppers is a safety with the Patriots.

Peppers reiterated the notion that Harbaugh will test a player’s love for the game.

“He will see if you love football like you say you do fasho (sic),” Peppers wrote.

Was Harbaugh really the reason Williams walked away? We don’t know, but those players at least think so.

Williams is 30 years old and still has some room to change his mind. He had two 1,000-yard seasons with the Chargers during his career. His best campaign was in 2021, when he had 76 catches for 1,146 yards and 9 touchdowns.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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