Former NFL defensive tackle DeShawn Williams is taking legal action after claiming cherished pieces of his football career were taken from his hurricane-damaged Florida home and later listed for sale online.
Williams and his wife, Ashlee, have filed a lawsuit in Pinellas County, Florida, alleging that contractors hired through their mortgage company entered their property without permission after Hurricane Helene and removed personal belongings, including NFL memorabilia that the former defensive lineman intended to pass down to his son.
According to the complaint, which was obtained by NBC Sports, the couple’s Shore Acres home sustained severe flooding after Hurricane Helene, forcing them to relocate while repairs were underway. They allege their mortgage company hired Solid Foundation Properties LLC, which subcontracted Colvin Inspections to inspect and preserve the property.
Instead, the lawsuit claims employees entered the home without authorization, removed personal items, and later listed Williams’ Denver Broncos helmet for $800 and his Cincinnati Bengals jersey for $200 on Facebook Marketplace.
The Williamses also say they only discovered someone had been inside their home after receiving an unexpected message offering to return the ashes of their late dog, Gucci.
Williams’ attorney, Matt Weidner, argues the dispute goes well beyond a disagreement over property maintenance. “They call it securing the property or winterizing the property,” Weidner said. “But in fact, they’re just entering into a property and violating a homeowner’s security.”
He also noted that the Williamses were current on their mortgage when the alleged incidents occurred. The lawsuit further claims the mortgage company distanced itself from the matter, advising the family to file a police report instead.
For Williams, the missing items represent far more than collectibles. “A lot because, you know, it’s my hard work,” he said of the memorabilia. “Something that I can pass down to my son.” After confronting one of the individuals allegedly connected to the listings through direct messages, Williams received a response that read, “I’m sorry I can’t speak on behalf of this as your wife immediately out of the gate started threatening with legal.”
The lawsuit also alleges neighbors reported additional unauthorized entries to the home even after the locks had been changed. Weidner said contractors were later seen returning with a truck and trailer before police were called. “You certainly don’t have any right to take their personal property, and you darn sure don’t have any right to be selling their property online,” he said.
After going undrafted in 2015 and briefly working at Amazon while chasing his NFL dream, he built a nine-year professional career that included stops with the Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers, Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis Colts, and Buffalo Bills.
He appeared in 78 NFL games, recording 164 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks before retiring and joining the Oklahoma Sooners coaching staff as a defensive analyst.
The St. Petersburg Police Department says the case remains under investigation, and no criminal charges have been filed.