Phillip Adams

Phillip Matthew Adams (July 20, 1988 – April 8, 2021) was an American professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Carolina State Bulldogs and was selected 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 Phillip Matthew Adams was born on July 20, 1988, in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He attended Rock Hill High School, where he played football and basketball. 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.

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. That year, he also scored a touchdown on a pick six against Norfolk State.

Professional career

Adams was selected in the seventh round (224th overall) of the 2010 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers. 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. The injury required Adams to have surgery, which included several screws being inserted into his leg. He was released by the 49ers on September 3, 2011.

On September 21, 2011, the New England Patriots signed Adams and Landon Cohen after season-ending injuries to Dan Koppen and Myron Pryor. 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. On November 21, Adams recorded his first interception in the NFL. He was waived again on November 29. and 15 tackles. In his time with the Raiders, he suffered two concussions over three games.

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. 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. 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, 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."

NFL career statistics 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 12011 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 78 128 108 20 0.0 1 1 26 5 2 0.4 2 0 15

Shootings and death

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. He was 32. According to a neighbor, police used a loudspeaker and sent a robot into the house in a failed attempt to coax him out. His father, Alonzo, suggested that his football career may have played a role in the shooting, stating that the sport "messed him up". 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.