Chandler Williams, who was a member of the Atlanta Falcons in 2008 and 2009, died Sunday while playing in a flag football tournament in South Florida. He was 27.
A cause of death was not released.
The wide receiver was a seventh-round draft pick of the Minnesota Vikings in 2007 out of Florida International. He got into NFL preseason games in four seasons but never played in a regular-season game, also spending time with the Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons and Kansas City Chiefs. Williams also played for the CFL's Toronto Argonauts.
Most recentely Williams was a member of the Arena Football League's Tampa Bay Storm.
He caught 83 passes for 996 yards and 17 touchdowns while leading the AFL with a 23-yard kickoff return average for the Tampa Bay Storm last season.
Storm President Derrick Brooks says "we are shocked and saddened."
The Falcons signed Williams on April 29, 2008. He was cut before the season started and later added to the Falcons' practice squad and took part in the 2009 preseason.
He is survived by his fiancee, Vanitia Harrigan, and a daughter, Tori Williams.
