Jamal Adams bluntly admits NY Jets trade was a mistake, apologizes to fans

There's a large collection of NY Jets fans who will never forgive former star safety Jamal Adams for how his tenure with the organization ended. Once the team's most popular player, Adams went from franchise savior to scorned outcast in a matter of months.

Adams was the self-proclaimed "President" of the New York Jets. But the same fanbase that would have unanimously elected him at one point in his career was quick to impeach him following his trade request in the spring of 2020.

Now, four years later, Adams is willing to admit he regrets his decision. The former All-Pro safety spoke with Tyler Dunne of Go Long last month and expressed regret for his trade request and even offered somewhat of an apology to Jets fans.

Adams' career has torpedoed since leaving the Jets, and it's clear that the time out of the spotlight has humbled the ex-LSU star. He's older, possibly more mature, and willing to admit past mistakes.

"[Jets] fans, I didn’t know I hurt ‘em like that. I didn’t realize I had that much impact. And then obviously the older I got, I started to realize, ‘Bro, you had it all. You had it all besides the winning. Everything else, you had it all. Anything a player could ask for.’ But it didn’t work out for me. I asked for the trade out. And if I look back on it now, I would tell myself, ‘Don’t make an emotional decision.'"

Jamal Adams

Jamal Adams offers a sincere apology to NY Jets fans

The sixth overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, it didn't take long for Adams to establish himself as one of the league's premier safeties. Adams made the Pro Bowl in two of his three seasons with the Jets, earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2019.

However, his frustrations with the organization boiled over, and he eventually got his wish when he was shipped to the Seattle Seahawks for a hefty trade package in July 2020. The trade would essentially net the Jets Garrett Wilson and Alijah Vera-Tucker, two offensive cornerstones.

As for Adams, his career in Seattle was marred by injury and inconsistency. He appeared in just 12 games in each of his first two seasons with the Seahawks before suffering a torn pectoral muscle in Week 1 of 2022. That proved to be the beginning of the end for the former face of the Jets franchise.

In total, Adams appeared in just 34 of a possible 67 games in four years with the Seahawks before he was released in the offseason. He's bounced around between the Tennessee Titans and Detroit Lions' practice squad this season, playing just five total games.

Adams is willing to reflect on his controversial decision to leave the Jets and address the impact it had on his career and relationships with fans. His candid remarks demonstrate a new level of maturity, even if many fans will believe it's a classic case of too little, too late.

Jamal Adams may always remain a polarizing figure among Jets fans — loathed by some, forgiven by others. But for those simply waiting for an apology, they finally got it.

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