Mike Williams Retires: Remembering His Impactful Chargers Career

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jay Canale | Last updated Jul 17, 2025 5:37 PM ET

ESPN’s Kris Rhim reported that Los Angeles Chargers’ wide receiver Mike Williams has decided to retire from the NFL on Thursday afternoon.

This comes as a shock to many fans, as Williams signed a one-year deal with Los Angeles in March. Although ESPN recently reported that Williams would start training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list a few days ago, few expected it was because Williams was considering retirement.

While his anticlimactic 2024 season with the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers marked what will now be the end of Williams’ career, it’s important to remember what he meant to the Chargers as a franchise staple from 2017 to 2023.

Williams’ career may not have reached its expected heights after he entered the league in 2017 as the highly anticipated seventh-overall pick, but he still managed to carve out an impactful career as a Charger.

His playstyle was beloved by Chargers fans everywhere, as he put his body on the line to make acrobatic catches on a weekly basis. Below is a perfect example from the 2020 season, where Williams makes a clutch grab in double coverage to give the Bolts a chance for a game-winning field goal attempt.

MIKE WILLIAMS.

: #LACvsNO on ESPN
: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/DQbEOUQ3Cv pic.twitter.com/Zz0ZWA7spw
— NFL (@NFL) October 13, 2020

These types of catches defined Williams’ time with legendary Charger Philip Rivers in particular, who was always willing to throw one up, and Mike always eager to climb the ladder to try and reel it in.

While Williams’ career may seem disappointing relative to his draft position, his production as a Charger tells a different story. Williams ranks 10th in team history in receiving yards, 13th in touchdowns, and 13th in receptions, grouped with many Bolts legends.

His tenure in San Diego and Los Angeles may not have ended with one more season with his former team as many fans hoped it would, but Williams’ legacy as a Charger will be remembered.