Tragedy has hit the 49ers organization again as Trent Williams’ family on Monday announced the passing of their stillborn son, and previously, his twin sister.
Coach Kyle Shanahan was very emotional when sharing that the All-Pro left tackle spent time with his family to grieve last week after the family's loss on Nov. 24.
“He did a little bit of that last week,” Shanahan said of Williams' absence at the facility, with a slight crack in his voice. “Something that happened that last week and he was there at the hospital with her and got to meet him and say bye. And then he had to cremate him on Friday, so he's been dealing with that and he's working through it. But we're all just trying to be here for him through it all.”
Shanahan believes that players being around each other during these incredibly sorrowful events can offer much-needed support for each other. While it’s difficult, they often can find solace with their brothers.
“When you’ve got to deal with tragedies like this, it's hard as a coach, it's hard as a friend, it's hard as a family member, it's hard for everybody,” Shanahan said. “But we spend a lot of time with each other, and that's what's cool about a football team.
“Whatever you go through, the good or the bad, we go through it together. I do like that they have this, they have a group of guys they can go to, a group of guys that could see them every day. And you can't ever escape that full grief, but I do think it's nice for those guys to have another avenue to get out on the football field, to get around teammates and things like that.”
Just over a month ago on Oct. 29, 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward announced the passing of his nearly 2-year-old daughter, Amani Joy. Ward spent several weeks away from the facility to grieve with his family, missing three games.
