Former Pro Bowler Mike Adams Retires from NFL After 16 Seasons

Longtime NFL safety Mike Adams announced Wednesday on NFL Network's Good Morning Football that he is retiring after 16 seasons.

Adams, 38, spent time with the San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans from 2004-19 and was twice named to the Pro Bowl.

After going unsigned during the 2019 offseason, Adams signed with the Texans in October and went on to appear in six regular-season games and two playoff contests as a reserve.

Despite a standout collegiate career at Delaware, Adams went undrafted in 2004. He fought his way onto the Niners' practice squad as a rookie and then onto the active roster.

After appearing in eight games as a rookie, Adams played at least 13 games in each of the next 14 campaigns.

He was an on-and-off starter from 2005-10, but from 2011-18, he started 115 of the 124 games he appeared in. It wasn't until he joined the Colts in 2014 that he came into his own and became one of the NFL's top safeties, however.

He set career highs with 87 tackles, 11 passes defended and five interceptions and was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time. He followed that up with 75 tackles, five interceptions and another Pro Bowl berth in 2015.

For his career, Adams appeared in 228 regular-season games (149 starts) and registered 935 tackles, 90 passes defended, 30 interceptions, 16 fumble recoveries, 13 forced fumbles, six sacks, two touchdowns and one safety.

Adams also played in 10 postseason games and appeared in Super Bowl XLVIII with the Broncos after the 2013 campaign, although Denver got blown out by the Seattle Seahawks.

What began as an uncertain venture into the NFL as an undrafted free agent ultimately became a long and fruitful career, making Adams the perfect example of what journeyman players can potentially accomplish through hard work and dedication.