Washington Redskins Pro Bowl tackle Trent Williams understandably struggled with the emotions of his grandfather’s death due to Type 2 diabetes.
John L. Hawkins, Williams’ grandfather, was 62 when he passed away. Williams, meanwhile, was still in grade school.
Hawkins was the only grandfather Williams ever knew, and he admitted that it was tough watching him battle the disease.
“I wasn’t able to establish that grandfather-grandson relationship that I wanted to,” Williams said. “He was my only grandfather that I knew of. My mom, she didn’t know her father so he was the only grandfather figure that I had and we lost him real early – real early in my life – to Type 2 diabetes.