Once upon a time, a particular strong safety was beloved in New York Jets land. This safety’s name was Jamal Adams, a kid whose exit was as electric as his entrance.
While feeling the NFL draft juices, Adams reflected on his night back in 2017 when the Jets selected him No. 6 overall. Not only did he express his gratitude for the Jets taking a chance on him, but he also shouldered some blame for his exit.
Adams, 29, responded to a Jets fan by calling himself “young and dumb” at the time. He also told the world that there was more we weren’t enlightened about, saying, “It’s soooo much more to the story.”
Nonetheless, it’s clear that Adams has done a complete 180 from his more stubborn days. Wanting to “win,” as Adams puts it, he did everything in his power to force the Jets to trade him.
That’s precisely what happened in July of 2020 when Joe Douglas sent him to the Seattle Seahawks.
After four injury-plagued seasons in Seattle, he signed with the Tennessee Titans in 2024. Interestingly, after the failed experiment in the Music City, Aaron Glenn’s banged-up Detroit Lions gave him a go for a couple of games.
Not even five years after the noisy Jets-Seahawks deal, Adams is currently out of the NFL.
The entire Jamal Adams-New York Jets saga is a tough one to digest. Rarely has a player turned so villainous after being so incredibly beloved initially.
In those early years, the youngster spent extra time with Jets fans every chance he got, as the love was indeed mutual. However, emotions—also known as life—happened.
Hey, at least Jets fans and Jamal Adams will always have the 2017 NFL draft to look back on with fondness.
