This was a no-brainer for Chiefs running back Damien Williams. But that doesn't mean the decision to opt out of the 2020 NFL season was an easy one.
Williams was on SiriusXM NFL Radio on Thursday and revealed his mother has stage-four cancer, although he didn't say what type. But some chemotherapy treatments can weaken an immune system and make people susceptible to the coronavirus.
"For me it was just kind of cut, straight simple right to it," Williams said. "I'm dealing with a family matter, my mom was diagnosed with cancer and it's stage 4, so there was my decision.
"She was the only one there for me. I never had the opportunity to have my dad there. So my mom is my rock, my everything, so during the hard time like this, I think I should be next to her, every step."
Williams, 28, rushed for 498 yards and four touchdowns in 11 games last season, and he had four more touchdowns in the playoffs.
Like his teammates, Williams had his eyes on a Super Bowl repeat, and that's what made the decision difficult.
"It was hard," said Williams, who is in San Diego with his mother. "I sat down, talked to everybody in all my circle, family and everybody close to me know. My mom she just was like no whatever (your) decision, I'm behind you. But at the end of the day it's hard. Football is my life especially coming of a championship and wanting to do a repeat, which I know they're going to go handle that.
"But at the end of the day it's just something personal. ... I am the oldest son, so I would really have to step up to really handle everybody in the family."
Williams said he believes his teammates have been away from football for so long because of the pandemic that they know what it will take to remain safe and not spread the virus.
But even if Williams never got COVID-19, caring for his mother is the top priority.
Although he won't be with the Chiefs this fall, Williams is looking forward to rejoining his teammates for the 2021 season.
"Right now my mind is being there for my mom, but also working my butt off, not missing a beat," Williams said. "So I can't just sit back and ball up and let this be a setback. This is not what this is.
"I'm gonna be here for my mom but I'm getting after it. I plan on coming back and I plan on doing it all over again."
