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Former Bills DE Ben Williams Dies at 65 from Natural Causes

George Gojkovich/Getty Images

Former Buffalo Bills defensive end Ben Williams died from natural causes on Monday. He was 65.

Williams spent his entire NFL career (1976-85) with the Bills, registering 17.5 sacks between 1982 and '85 (the NFL didn't recognize sacks as an official stat until the 1982 season). Nicknamed Gentle Ben, he was a Pro Bowler in 1982 and posted 10 sacks in 1983.

His former defensive line coach and defensive coordinator, Don Lawrence, described what made Williams so good during his career.

"One, because he has all the athletic ability in the world, and two, because he is one of the most dedicated, hard-working athletes I've ever been around," he said, per Sal Maiorana of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.