Kansas City Chiefs running back Damien Williams was one of several high-profile names of NFL players deciding to opt out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns. Williams, 28, joined New England Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower and Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Marquise Goodwin as big names not to participate in the forthcoming campaign.
Williams, a Super Bowl champion with the Chiefs in 2019-20, explained why he opted out of the season (via SiriusXM NFL Radio).
“I'm dealing with a family matter — my mom was just diagnosed with cancer, and it's stage four. It was my decision, with everything going on — she was the only one there for me … [M]y mom is my rock, my everything. During a hard time like this, I should be next to her every step.
“It was [a] hard [decision] … at the end of the day, it's hard, football is my life, especially coming off of a championship, wanting to do a repeat — which I know they're gonna handle that. But at the end of the day this is something personal, you know I had to handle [it].”
Chiefs RB Damien Williams explains his reasoning for opting out of the 2020 NFL season, that hits close to home.
"It was hard.. football is my life, especially coming off a championship"
👇 Audio 👇 pic.twitter.com/c3uEEeSL25
— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) July 30, 2020
A former undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma in 2014, Williams spent four seasons with the Miami Dolphins before joining the Chiefs via free agency in March 2018. After winning Super Bowl LIV with Williams as a featured back, the Chiefs selected LSU Tigers rusher Clyde Edwards-Helaire at the end of the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Edwards-Helaire is expected to add more fuel to the fire of Kansas City's stunningly deep offense, but the loss of Williams and right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif could put a dent in the Chiefs in 2020.
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