After 16 seasons in the NFL where he played for six different teams, former Pro Bowl safety Mike Adams decided to hang up his boots. The 38-year-old, who was to become a free agent this off-season, made the announcement during a Wednesday appearance on the NFL network.
“I call it stopping,” said Adams. “It’s time to hang up on the crampons. Retirement is done. It’s over,”
A big reason why Adams decided to retire was because he didn’t want to go through another off-season waiting for a team to call. In 2019, the defensive veteran did not sign with a team until September, when the Texans added him for a year. According to NFL rules, teams do not have to give a veteran a fully guaranteed contract if they sign after week 1, and because of this rule, Adams did not think anyone would seek to sign it this year until September.
“I got so used to the process,” said Adams. “I love to train, but the process of being a vet and not being recruited early and having to wait after the first game, because when you wait after the first game, your contract is not guaranteed. .. I tear a little, because for 16 years, [football] that’s what i do, but now i’m a civilian [my girls] to school and pick them up. “
Although Adams was never considered one of the best safeties in the NFL, he lasted 16 seasons in the league because he was almost always an above average player.
His playing career started in 2004 after the 49ers signed him up as an undrafted free agent from Delaware. After three seasons in San Francisco, Adams signed with the Browns and ended up spending five years in Cleveland. After this stint, Adams traveled to Denver, where he had his greatest playoff success. In two seasons with the Broncos, Adams played four playoff games, including a 43-8 loss to the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII, one in which he had six tackles.
After the Broncos’ Super Bowl defeat, Adams left the team free to sign with the Colts. In his three seasons at Indy, the veteran was elected to consecutive Pro Bowls in 2014 and 2015, which ended up being the only two Pro Bowl appearances in his career. Adams has played his last three seasons with the Panthers (2017-18) and Texans (2019), and has ended up playing in at least one playoff game with each team.
In 16 seasons, Adams has collected 30 career interceptions with 930 tackles, 13 forced fumbles, 16 fumble recoveries, two touchdowns and six sacks.