49ers tackle Trent Williams, wife mourn loss of newborn son

Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News on Dec 2, 2024

Published in Football

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Heartbreak has struck the San Francisco 49ers family again with the news that the newborn son of left tackle Trent Williams died on Nov. 24.

Sondra Williams, the wife of the 49ers’ tackle, said in an Instagram post the baby had been diagnosed with Trisomy 13 — a rare genetic condition — and that a twin daughter had been lost earlier in the pregnancy.

“My Forever Angel, Trenton O’Brien Williams Jr. It’s been extremely hard trying to process the saddest Hello and Goodbye that I’ve ever had to endure,” Sondra Williams wrote. “My first born and only son, I’ve always wanted you. But God wanted and needed you more ... I’m at peace knowing you will never have to suffer. Although I will never hear your soft coos and cries or see those beautiful little eyes staring up at me, I am grateful to God for the time I shared with you.”

Coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed the painful news Monday on a conference call with reporters, saying Trent Williams “was at the hospital with her and got to meet him and say bye. Then he had to cremate him on Friday. He’s been dealing with it and working through it. We’re all just trying to be here for him through it all.”

The time of death, according to Sondra Williams, was at 11:38 p.m. on Nov. 24 — five weeks before the due date. Trent Williams did not travel that day for the 49ers’ game against the Green Bay Packers and was scratched from the lineup after being listed as questionable to play during the week.

Williams was at the club facility last week but did not travel to the 49ers’ 35-10 road loss to the Buffalo Bills and was listed as out with an ankle injury. He has been on the injury report with the ankle issue since their Week 10 win over Tampa Bay.

It is the second tragedy to hit a 49ers player in less than a month. The daughter of Charvarius “Mooney” Ward passed away at 23 months on Oct. 28. Amani Joy Ward, born with Down syndrome, had dealt with health issues including heart surgery.

Ward played for the first time since his daughter’s death against Buffalo.

Shanahan addressed the difficulty of dealing with real-life tragedy but believes a football team can provide some relief.

“It’s hard as a coach, it’s hard as a friend, it’s hard as a family member, it’s hard for everybody,” Shanahan said. “But we spend a lot of time together and that’s what’s cool about a football team. Whatever you go through, the good or the bad, we go through it together ... you can never escape that full grief, but I do think it’s nice for those guys to have another avenue to get on the field, be around their teammates.”

Shanahan said he was proud of Ward for getting on the field.

“It was hard and I’m sure he didn’t always want to do it, but he got through the week of practice, got through the game and I think that was a real step for him just going forward with his life,” Shanahan said. “That’s the thing everybody’s got to do in those situations.”

Williams, 36, is an 11-time Pro Bowl selection with Washington and the 49ers, and earned a contract extension during a training camp holdout to make him the NFL’s highest-paid left tackle. He joined the 49ers in 2020 in a trade from Washington.

Shanahan said Williams, who last played against Seattle on Nov. 17, plans on playing as soon as the swelling goes down on his injured ankle.

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