7/31 6:08 AM PT -- 7/31 -- Damien Williams has broken his silence on his decision to opt out of the 2020 NFL season -- saying his mother is sick and he wants to be able to spend time with her.
"I’m dealing with a family matter," Williams said on SiriusXM NFL Radio ... "My mom was just diagnosed with cancer and it’s Stage 4, so that was my decision."
7/31 6:07 AM PT -- He added, "With everything that’s going on, she was the only one there for me. I never had the opportunity to have my dad there. My mom is my rock, my everything, so during a hard time like this, I think I should be next to her every step."
Williams says the decision to opt out was tough -- and he talked it over with close friends and family members -- but in the end, decided it's family first.
"My mom was just like, whatever’s your decision, I’m behind you. It was hard. Football is my life and coming off a championship and wanting a repeat -- and I know they’re going to handle that -- but at the end of the day, it was something personal I had to handle.”
KC Chiefs running back Damien Williams -- who scored TWO 4th-quarter TDs in the Super Bowl -- is opting OUT of the 2020 NFL season.
"Damien Williams informed the club of his decision to opt out of the 2020 season," Chiefs GM Brett Veach announced Wednesday.
The 28-year-old has not yet issued a statement explaining his decision -- but this is a big one.
Williams was a stud for the Chiefs in 2019 -- but REALLY broke out during the playoffs.
During Super Bowl LIV, he rushed for 104 yards and a TD against the SF 49ers -- and also caught 4 passes for 29 yards and a TD!
The receiving TD with 1:12 left in the game basically sealed the victory for KC.
Some people feel he could have been named Super Bowl MVP.
Williams was reportedly set to make $1.85 million in 2020 -- the final year of his contract.
The good news for the Chiefs ... they drafted a BEAST in the 1st round of the 2020 NFL Draft -- scooping up LSU's Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
Not a terrible fall back plan.
Other RBs on the roster include Darwin Thompson and Darrell Williams.
Story developing ...
Originally published -- 7/29 1:59 PM