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Phillip Adams (American football)

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Phillip Adams
refer to caption
Adams with the Oakland Raiders in 2012
No. 35, 26, 40, 28, 24, 20
Position:Cornerback
Personal information
Born:(1988-07-20)July 20, 1988
Rock Hill, South Carolina, U.S.
Died:April 8, 2021(2021-04-08) (aged 32)
Rock Hill, South Carolina, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:Rock Hill
College:South Carolina State (2006–2009)
NFL draft:2010 / round: 7 / pick: 224
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-MEAC (2009)
Career NFL statistics
Tackles:128
Pass deflections:15
Interceptions:5
Forced fumbles:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Phillip Matthew Adams (July 20, 1988 – April 8, 2021) was an American professional football cornerback and murderer. He played college football for the South Carolina State Bulldogs and was drafted in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers. He also played for the New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, Oakland Raiders, New York Jets, and Atlanta Falcons.

On April 7, 2021, Adams killed six people in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The next day, he shot and killed himself following a standoff with police. He was posthumously diagnosed as suffering from the brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

Early life

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Phillip Matthew Adams was born on July 20, 1988, in Rock Hill, South Carolina.[1][2] He attended Rock Hill High School, where he played football and basketball.[3]

College career

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Adams attended South Carolina State University from 2006 to 2009.[4] In his freshman year with the Bulldogs, Adams saw action as a backup and on special teams. He recorded 12 tackles and two interceptions, along with a 30-yard punt return. As a sophomore with the Bulldogs, he played in 11 games.[5]

As a junior, Adams ranked sixth on the team (with 48 tackles) and led the team in interceptions (with five) and pass deflections (with nine). In his senior year, he was a First Team All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference selection after registering 48 tackles and three interceptions.[6] That year, he also scored a touchdown on a pick six against Norfolk State.[7]

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump
5 ft 10+3⁄4 in
(1.80 m) 		192 lb
(87 kg) 		4.50 s 1.62 s 2.57 s 4.34 s 7.16 s 34.5 in
(0.88 m)		 10 ft 4 in
(3.15 m)
All values from South Carolina State's Pro Day[8]
Adams at training camp with the Atlanta Falcons in 2015

Adams was selected in the seventh round (224th overall) of the 2010 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers.[9] In week 16 against the St. Louis Rams on December 26, 2010, he broke his left ankle while blocking on the opening kickoff of the second half.[10][11] The injury required Adams to have surgery, which included several screws being inserted into his leg.[12] He was released by the 49ers on September 3, 2011.[13]

On September 21, 2011, the New England Patriots signed Adams and Landon Cohen after season-ending injuries to Dan Koppen and Myron Pryor.[14] He was waived on October 8, then re-signed on October 13 after Mike Wright went on injured reserve. On October 14, Adams was once again released to make room for Marcus Harrison, but was re-signed on October 18.[15] On November 21, Adams recorded his first interception in the NFL.[16] He was waived again on November 29.[17]

On December 20, 2011, Adams was signed by the Seattle Seahawks. He made only one appearance for the Seahawks in 2011.[3] On August 31, 2012, the Seahawks cut Adams.[17]

On September 1, 2012, Adams was signed by the Oakland Raiders.[17] In 2012 for Oakland, Adams played in 15 of the Raiders' 16 games, with one interception (off of Peyton Manning)[18] and 15 tackles.[17] On December 28, 2012, he was placed on injured reserve. On March 12, 2013, he re-signed with the Raiders as a restricted free agent. Adams appeared in all 16 games for the Raiders in 2013, with 30 tackles and a fumble recovery on the year.[17] In his time with the Raiders, he suffered two concussions over three games.[19]

Adams signed with the Seahawks again on March 27, 2014. On August 30, 2014, he was released after continued struggles in training camp.

He was claimed off waivers by the New York Jets on September 1, 2014.[20] In 2014 for the Jets, Adams had one interception and 24 tackles in 12 games for the team.

Adams was signed by the Atlanta Falcons on March 12, 2015.[21] He played in 13 games for the Falcons in 2015, with one interception and 38 tackles. On April 5, 2016, Adams had a workout with the Kansas City Chiefs,[22] but he did not return to the NFL. During training camp in 2016, the Indianapolis Colts called and asked Adams to participate in practice the following day, but Adams missed his flight. According to his former agent, "He made it to the Charlotte airport, but the flight had left already. I could tell his head was not in it. He'd given up on it."[23]

NFL career statistics

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Year Team GP Tackles Fumbles Interceptions
Cmb Solo Ast Sck FF FR Yds Int Yds Avg Lng TD PD
2010 SF 15 13 9 4 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 1
2011 NE 6 8 7 1 0.0 0 0 0 1 0 0.0 0 0 1
SEA 1 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0
2012 OAK 15 15 13 2 0.0 0 0 0 2 0 0.0 0 0 5
2013 OAK 16 30 26 4 0.0 0 1 26 0 0 0.0 0 0 1
2014 NYJ 12 24 21 3 0.0 0 0 0 1 0 0.0 0 0 3
2015 ATL 13 38 32 6 0.0 1 0 0 1 2 2.0 2 0 4
Total[24] 78 128 108 20 0.0 1 1 26 5 2 0.4 2 0 15

Shootings and death

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Main article: 2021 Rock Hill shooting
External videos
video icon "Former N.F.L. Player Kills 5 in South Carolina", The New York Times, April 8, 2021

On April 7, 2021, Adams shot six people at a house in Rock Hill, South Carolina, killing five and fatally injuring a sixth who died on April 10. During a standoff with the police the next day, on April 8, Adams fatally shot himself, according to the York County Sheriff's Office.[25][26][27][28][29] He was 32.[25] Police said Adams' mother was inside the home during the standoff, but was "safely removed" before Adams killed himself.[3] According to a neighbor, police used a loudspeaker and sent a robot into the house in a failed attempt to coax him out.[25]

Adams had no prior criminal record.[30] His father, Alonzo, suggested that his football career may have played a role in the shooting, stating that the sport "messed him up".[29] An autopsy revealed that Adams suffered from an "unusually severe" case of the brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy.[31] He was one of at least 345 NFL players to be diagnosed after death with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is caused by repeated hits to the head.[32][33]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Who is Phillip Adams, former NFL player accused of South Carolina mass shooting?". WSOC-TV. April 8, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  2. ^ Dys, Andrew (April 16, 2021). "Shot 6 times, here's what victim told police about Phillip Adams days before dying". The Herald. Rock Hill, SC. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Dys, Andrew (April 8, 2021). "Shooter who killed 5 in South Carolina was former Seahawks player". The News Tribune. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  4. ^ Carboni, Nick (April 8, 2021). "Shooting suspect Phillip Adams played 6 NFL seasons". WCNC-TV. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  5. ^ "49ers Select CB Adams". 49ers.com. April 24, 2010. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  6. ^ Getzenberg, Alaina; Nell Perkins, Tobie (April 8, 2021). "Who was Phillip Adams? Shocked friends of ex-NFL player speak after SC mass shooting". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  7. ^ Linder, Brian (October 10, 2009). "Bulldogs roll, 37-10; Norfolk State no match for SCSU". The Times and Democrat. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  8. ^ "Phillip Adams Draft Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
  9. ^ "2010 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  10. ^ "49ers Rookie Cornerback Hurt". Fox Sports. December 26, 2010. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  11. ^ "Agent: 49ers CB Adams' ankle recovering ahead of schedule". NFL.com. May 10, 2011. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  12. ^ Liu, Michelle; Kinnard, Meg (April 8, 2021). "Former 49ers player Phillip Adams kills 5, then himself, sheriff says". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  13. ^ "49ers Trim Roster to 53". Archived from the original on December 24, 2011. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  14. ^ "Patriots sign Phillip Adams, Landon Cohen; Koppen, Pryor placed on IR". Patriots.com. September 21, 2011. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  15. ^ "Patriots re-sign DB Phillip Adams". Patriots.com. October 18, 2011. Archived from the original on October 16, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  16. ^ Negley, Cassandra (April 8, 2021). "Who was Phillip Adams? Former NFL player identified as suspect in South Carolina shooting, per reports". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  17. ^ a b c d e "Phillip Adams Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  18. ^ Slivka, Steve (December 7, 2012). "Oakland Raiders: Raiders' Biggest Winners and Losers from Week 14". Bleacher Report. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  19. ^ "Authorities: Former NFL pro and one-time Patriots player Phillip Adams killed five, then himself". WFXT. April 8, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  20. ^ Lange, Randy (September 1, 2014). "Jets Sign CB Adams, Release WR Enunwa". New York Jets. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  21. ^ Adams, Jay (March 12, 2015). "Falcons Add More Defensive Help in Free Agency". Atlanta Falcons. Archived from the original on March 18, 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  22. ^ "Phillip Adams - Unsigned Free Agent - NFL". www.nbcsports.com. Archived from the original on April 13, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  23. ^ Abrams, Jonathan; Belson, Ken; Jeter, John (April 9, 2021). "The Mystery of Why a Foundering Football Player Killed a Family". The New York Times. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  24. ^ "Phillip Adams Stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  25. ^ a b c Liu, Michelle; Kinnard, Meg (April 8, 2021). "Authorities: NFL player Phillip Adams killed 5, then himself". Associated Press. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  26. ^ "NFL pro Phillip Adams kills five, then himself". CNBC. April 8, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  27. ^ "Ex-NFL player reported as gunman who killed renowned doctor and grandchildren". The Independent. April 8, 2021. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  28. ^ Gaydos, Ryan (April 8, 2021). "Ex-NFL player Phillip Adams' father on South Carolina shooting: 'I think the football messed him up'". Fox News. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  29. ^ a b "Father of York County shooting suspect says son killed 5 others, then himself". wcnc.com. April 8, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  30. ^ Bella, Timothy (April 8, 2021). "Five dead in S.C. shooting committed by ex-NFL player Phillip Adams, who then killed himself, authorities say". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  31. ^ "Autopsy of ex-NFL player Phillip Adams, accused of killing six people, shows 'unusually severe' CTE". ESPN.com. December 14, 2021.
  32. ^ "The driving force behind Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)". Concussion Legacy Foundation. Archived from the original on July 2, 2023. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  33. ^ Ken Belson and Benjamin Mueller (June 20, 2023). "Collective Force of Head Hits, Not Just the Number of Them, Increases Odds of C.T.E. The largest study of chronic traumatic encephalopathy to date found that the cumulative force of head hits absorbed by players in their careers is the best predictor of future brain disease". The New York Times. Retrieved July 2, 2023.

Further reading

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Phillip Adams (American football).
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