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The Tuscaloosa News
Former Alabama football DL Jesse Williams seeks help from UA after heart attack at 34
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- Former Alabama football DL Jesse Williams seeks help from UA after heart attack at 34
Jesse Williams is back home again. His second home, really, but in so many ways, his first.
That's how special the University of Alabama is to Williams, the Australian-born former Crimson Tide nose guard with the big frame and even bigger personality.
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He was here when an F-4 tornado tore through Tuscaloosa in April, 2011, and volunteered to help with clean-up as if it were his own backyard. He was here when legendary coach Nick Saban secured back-to-back national championships; indeed, Williams was part of both those teams in his only two seasons at UA. And when he dies, he wants his ashes buried under Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
"I feel indebted eternally to the University. I rep Alabama wherever I go," he said.
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And so it's of little surprise that Williams is back in Tuscaloosa, where he's most comfortable, two months after suffering a heart attack at age 34 in his native Brisbane, Australia. That his Crimson Tide was preparing for a home game against Vanderbilt, of course, was a bonus. But Williams came halfway around the world primarily for trusted medical advice from the UA training staff.
"I don't think health care is solutions-focused in Australia, so I reached out to (former UA trainer) Ginger Gilmore and Jeff Allen. I trust these people to give me the right answers, the best answers that will help me moving forward," he said. "I'll get some different opinions on the situation. I've not gotten a lot of answers in Australia."
Walking up 23rd Avenue in downtown Tuscaloosa, he still draws plenty of attention with his massive size, countless tattoos, and a Seahawks Super Bowl ring on his right hand. Throw in the Australian accent and easygoing demeanor, and strangers will readily strike up a conversation with him. But Williams will often be the conversation starter, because to him, nobody in this town is a stranger. In fact, he announced his return to Tuscaloosa via social media, and encouraged his 40,000 X followers to " come find me ."
He has been retired from football for more than a decade; the former fifth-round draft pick of the Seattle Seahawks was forced out of the game by a cancerous kidney that had to be removed in 2015. Less than eight weeks later, he was back on the Seahawks practice field, but after a couple of preseason games, he had to retire having never played a regular-season down in the NFL. To this day, functioning with a single kidney means Williams must submit to an hour-long session of IV fluids each week for vitamins, along with being careful about hydration and salt intake.
Former Alabama defensive lineman Jesse Williams, 34, returned to Tuscaloosa for medical guidance following a heart attack.
11-24-2012 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala -- Alabama defensive lineman Jesse Williams (54) flexes his arms as he walks off the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. on Saturday Nov. 24, 2012. Alabama won this years Iron Bowl beating Auburn 49-0. (Robert Sutton / The Tuscaloosa News)
But Williams' post-football years don't align with the usual narrative of out-of-shape, overweight ex-linemen. To this day, despite remaining well over 300 pounds at 6-foot-4, Williams takes far better care of his body than most. He still lifts weights daily and practices jiu jitsu. He enjoys hiking and walks eight miles per day on average. He doesn't drink alcohol - never has - and ever since recovering from his kidney removal, he's taken to fasting when it comes to diet. For roughly five months before he arrived back in the U.S., and three months before his heart attack, he was eating only about four meals per week.
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"I would eat on a Sunday night, then not eat again until Wednesday morning," he said. "Usually, it's a fast for two days, eat once or twice on the third day, then fast another two days."
Suffice it to say Williams takes care of himself, which makes it all the more troubling that his heart, based on a MRI he received in Australia, is functioning only at 30-35%. As Williams described, circulating blood around a body his size is a lot of work for any heart. He can get light-headed from bending over and feels fatigued at times.
He's looking for answers.
And he's traveled 9,000 miles back home to find them.
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Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread is also the weekly co-host of Crimson Cover TV on WVUA-23. Reach him at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on X.com @chasegoodbread.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Former Alabama DL Jesse Williams, 34, seeks help after heart attack
