Position: Strong safety Role American football safety Weight: 226 lb (103 kg) Height 1.91 m | College: North Carolina State 40 yard dash time 4.55 seconds Name Adrian Wilson Spouse Alicia Wilson | |
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Date of birth: (1979-10-12) October 12, 1979 (age 36) Place of birth: High Point, North Carolina High school: High Point (NC) T. Wingate Andrews Education North Carolina State University Children Aubrei Reign Wilson, Brooklyn Maximus Wilson, Adrian Wilson Jr Similar People Bruce Arians, Bill Belichick, James Bettcher, Jennifer Welter Profiles | ||
Adrian Lemar Wilson (born on October 12, 1979) is a former American football safety. He played college football at NC State, and was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round of the 2001 NFL Draft. Wilson also played for the New England Patriots.
Contents
- College career
- 2001 NFL Draft
- Arizona Cardinals
- New England Patriots
- Chicago Bears
- Retirement
- NFL records
- Cardinals franchise records
- Personal life
- References
College career
Wilson attended North Carolina State University, where he was a two-year starter at strong safety for the NC State Wolfpack football team. In 33 games (and 23 starts) with the Wolfpack, he posted 254 total tackles (144 solo tackles, 11 tackles-for-losses), 11 pass deflections and 3 passes intercepted. His 248 total tackles was the most by an N.C. State defensive back since James Walker collected 289 stops from 1993–95. At the end of his junior year, Wilson decided to forgo his senior season and enter the 2001 NFL Draft.
2001 NFL Draft
At 213 pounds, Wilson ran a 4.45 sec 40-yard dash at the 2001 pre-draft combine and was considered a second-round prospect. He also has a standing vertical leap of 42 inches, and he was shown in a YouTube video jumping over a 66-inch hurdle. He was selected with the second pick in the third round (64th overall) by the Arizona Cardinals.
Arizona Cardinals
In 2006, Wilson set the team record for longest interception return after scoring on a 99-yard return against the Atlanta Falcons. Later in the season, he earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl. In his career, he has recorded 893 tackles, 54.0 tackles for a loss, 25.5 sacks, 27 interceptions, 14 forced fumbles, 6 fumble recoveries, 82 passes defended, 4 return touchdowns, and a blocked punt. During the 2005 season, he set an NFL record for the most sacks in a season by a defensive back with eight. During the playoffs in 2009, he helped lead the Cardinals to its first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history but lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII 27-23.
On June 4, 2009, the Cardinals re-signed Wilson to a new five-year, $39 million contract, with $18.5 million guaranteed. On December 26, Wilson recorded a sack against the St. Louis Rams which put him in the 20/20 club (20 sacks and 20 interceptions).
On December 16, 2012, Wilson recorded a sack against the Detroit Lions which put him in the 25/25 club (25 sacks and 25 interceptions). Wilson became just the sixth player in NFL history to do this.
Wilson was released by the Cardinals on March 8, 2013.
New England Patriots
On March 15, 2013, Wilson signed with the New England Patriots to a 3-year deal. Right after he joined the team, he offered Kyle Arrington a year's supply of diapers for Arrington's newborn baby to have his jersey number 24, the number Wilson had in Arizona. On May 1, 2013, Wilson received the #24 jersey from Kyle Arrington. Kyle Arrington was reassigned to #25.
On August 31, 2013, the New England Patriots placed Wilson on the season-ending injury reserve due to an Achilles tendon injury. He was released by the Patriots on April 4, 2014.
Chicago Bears
On June 23, 2014 Wilson signed with the Chicago Bears to a one-year deal, however on August 23 he was released.
Retirement
On April 20, 2015, Wilson signed a one-day contract with the Arizona Cardinals and announced his retirement from the National Football League.
NFL records
Cardinals franchise records
Personal life
Wilson attended T. Wingate Andrews High School in High Point, North Carolina. Wilson is married to wife Alicia Wilson, with three children, one which was born shortly after the Arizona Cardinals loss to the New Orleans Saints in the 2009 Divisional Round. He owns a designer shoe store in Arizona called High Point.