Australian NFL pioneer Jesse Williams battles heart attack and a fractured marriage

Jesse Williams, the first Australian to win an NFL Super Bowl ring, suffered a heart attack last month after climbing Mount Ngungun in the Glass House Mountains, about 80 kilometers north of Brisbane. The 34-year-old former Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman helped the 2014 championship team win the title and is now focusing on his health while seeking to repair his estranged marriage with Tanisha Williams.

According to reports, Williams was alone during the ascent on Aug. 5 and began to feel a cold sweat, chest pressure, and tingling in both arms. On his drive home to his Brisbane area residence, he called his wife. She remained on the phone with him until an ambulance arrived. At Royal Brisbane Hospital, doctors diagnosed a heart attack after blood tests showed elevated troponin. He underwent an angiogram and MRI. His blood pressure and cholesterol were reported normal. He spent a week in the coronary care unit with his wife, their daughter Bear, and his son Wolf by his side. Since discharge, he has had two additional scares, including an episode at the gym when bending down to pick up a towel.

The health scare comes as Williams lives apart from Tanisha, the mother of their daughter Bear, while they continue to co-parent. The estrangement has been long and ongoing as Williams tries to win back his wife. He says she has been a stabilizing force in his life and believes she is keeping him alive. After the hospital stay, Williams posted on social media to thank his family, especially his wife, for helping him survive.

He discusses his medical history and current status: He has heart function estimated at about 35 percent and is dealing with heart failure. He has a history of papillary type 2 cancer diagnosed in 2015 that led to kidney removal and early retirement from the NFL. The 6-foot-5 former player notes he remains physically active and continues training despite the health issues.

On the football side, Williams was the first Indigenous Australian drafted into the NFL and earned a Super Bowl ring with the Seahawks in 2014. He returned to Australia after his cancer treatment and later founded Elite Pacific Sports, a company that builds pathways for Australian athletes to attend U.S. colleges. The business plans a 20-day tour to meet college programs in the South, with stops at Tennessee State University and a return visit to Alabama.

Williams says his priority is to improve his health and repair his relationship. He remains hopeful about the future of his health and his family. He indicates he intends to stay active and continue his work supporting Australian athletes. He described himself as someone who has faced adversity and not easily slowed down, and he remains committed to not letting hardship define him.