EL SEGUNDO — Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams told the team he planned to retire rather than continue his standout NFL career after eight seasons, a club spokesman confirmed while the opening day of training camp was underway Thursday morning.
Williams spent seven of his eight years in the NFL with the Chargers.
After splitting the 2024 season between the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers, Williams re-signed with the Chargers on a one-year, $6-million contract in March. It seemed to be a natural reunion given Williams’ history with the team and, especially, with quarterback Justin Herbert.
Williams was hampered by an unspecified injury during spring practices, including minicamp last month. The Chargers placed him on the PUP list earlier this week, but General Manager Joe Hortiz said Wednesday afternoon that he expected Williams back on the field sooner than later.
It was anticipated that Williams would help bolster the Chargers’ wide receiver corps this coming season, giving Herbert additional options beyond second-year standout Ladd McConkey, who set franchise rookie receiving records last season with 82 catches for 1,149 yards.
Tony Dandy, Williams’ agent, then informed Hortiz later Wednesday that Williams intended to retire. Williams leaves the game at age 30, having caught 330 passes for 5,104 yards and 32 touchdowns over 106 games in the NFL, including 88 with the Chargers, the team that drafted him in the first round in 2017.
Williams was unavailable for immediate comment.
Herbert was scheduled to speak with reporters later Thursday afternoon.
More to come on this story.