Davante Lavell Adams (born December 24, 1992) is an American professional
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
wide receiver
A wide receiver (WR), also referred to as a wideout, and historically known as a split end (SE) or flanker (FL), is an eligible receiver in gridiron football. A key skill position of the offense (American football), offense, WR gets its name ...
for the
Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams are a professional American football team based in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles area. The Rams compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC West, West ...
of the
National Football League
The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...
(NFL). He played two seasons of
college football
College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...
for the
Fresno State Bulldogs
The Fresno State Bulldogs are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent California State University, Fresno (commonly referred to as Fresno State). The university is a member of NCAA Division I's Mountain West Conference (MW). It was a ...
and was named a second-team
All-American
The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed on outstanding athletes in the United States who are considered to be among the best athletes in their respective sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an Al ...
in 2013 before being selected in the second round of the
2014 NFL draft
The 2014 NFL draft was the 79th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible football players to the league. The draft, officially the "Player Selection Meeting", was held at Radio City Music Hall in New Y ...
by the
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They ar ...
.
Early in his career with the Packers, Adams was low in the wide receiver
depth chart
In sports, a depth chart, primarily in the United States, is used to show the placements of the starting players and the secondary players. Generally a starting player will be listed first or on top while a back-up will be listed below. Depth chart ...
behind teammates
Jordy Nelson
Jordy Ray Nelson (born May 31, 1985) is an American former professional American football, football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons with the Green Bay Packers and the Oakland Raiders. He played ...
and
Randall Cobb. After being named to his first
Pro Bowl
The National Football League All-Star Game (1939–1942), Pro Bowl (1951–2022), or Pro Bowl Games (since 2023) is an annual event held by the National Football League (NFL) featuring the league's All-star, star players.
The format has changed ...
in 2017, Adams signed a four-year, $58 million contract extension. For the next four seasons, Adams was the top wide receiver on the team, forming a close bond with quarterback
Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Charles Rodgers (born December 2, 1983) is an American professional American football, football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the California Golden Bears foo ...
that culminated in leading the league in receiving
touchdowns
A touchdown (abbreviated as TD) is a scoring play in gridiron football. Scoring a touchdown grants the team that scored it 6 points. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchd ...
in 2020 and setting career bests in
receptions and receiving yards in 2021. During his eight-year tenure with the Packers, Adams only missed 13 games, was named First-team
All-Pro
All-Pro is an honor bestowed upon professional American football players that designates the best player at each position during a given season. All-Pro players are typically selected by press organizations, who select an "All-Pro team," a list t ...
two times, and was selected to the Pro Bowl on five occasions.
After contract negotiations failed between the Packers and Adams during the 2022 offseason, he was traded to the
Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders are a professional American football team based in the Las Vegas Valley, Las Vegas metropolitan area. The Raiders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC West ...
for a first-round and second-round draft pick. Adams then signed a five-year, $141 million contract that made him the highest-paid wide receiver at the time. In his first season with the Raiders, Adams led the league in receiving touchdowns and was named to his sixth consecutive Pro Bowl. He requested a trade during the 2024 season and was dealt to the
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Jets compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The team p ...
, reuniting him with Rodgers. Adams was released following the season and later signed a two-year deal with the Rams.
Early life
Davante Lavell Adams was born to Douglas Adams and Pamela Brown on December 24, 1992. He has a brother and two sisters. From
East Palo Alto, California
East Palo Alto ( ; abbreviated E.P.A.) is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of East Palo Alto was 30,034. It is situated on the San Francisco Peninsula, roughly halfway between the c ...
, Adams attended
Palo Alto High School
Palo Alto Senior High School (commonly referred to locally as "Paly") is a comprehensive public high school in Palo Alto, California. Operated by the Palo Alto Unified School District, the school is one of two high schools in the district, the ...
in neighboring
Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto ( ; Spanish language, Spanish for ) is a charter city in northwestern Santa Clara County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area, named after a Sequoia sempervirens, coastal redwood tree known as El Palo Alto.
Th ...
. As a senior two-way starter for the Vikings
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
team, he led the school to a CIF state championship. He had 64
receptions for 1,094 yards and 12
touchdowns
A touchdown (abbreviated as TD) is a scoring play in gridiron football. Scoring a touchdown grants the team that scored it 6 points. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchd ...
, and as a
cornerback
A cornerback (CB) is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in gridiron football. Cornerbacks cover Wide receiver, receivers most of the time, but also blitz and defend against such Play from scrimmage, offensive running plays as sweep ...
on defense he totaled 44 tackles, including two for a loss, two forced
fumbles
A fumble in gridiron football occurs when a player who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed (tackled), scoring, or going out of bounds. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking, punting, or successful ...
, an
interception
In Ball game, ball-playing Competitive sport, competitive team sports, an interception or pick is a move by a player involving a pass of the ball—whether by foot or hand, depending on the rules of the sport—in which the ball is intended for ...
, and four
passes defended
In American football, a pass deflected, also known as a pass deflection, a pass defended, a pass , a pass knockdown, or a pass breakup, is an incomplete pass that is caused by a defensive player. This is done by slapping or blocking the ball with ...
.
He also played
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...
and was considered a two-star recruit in that sport.
Lettering
Lettering or Lettering design is an act or result of artfully drawing letters, instead of writing them simply. Lettering is considered an art form, where each letter in a phrase or quote acts as an illustration. Each letter is created with attent ...
all four years in basketball, he averaged 9.0 points, 5.8
rebounds
'Rebound' is a term used in sports to describe the ball (or puck or other object of play) becoming available for possession by either opponent after an attempt to put the ball or puck into the goal has been unsuccessful. Rebounds are generally ...
, and 5.4
assists as a senior.
He was recruited by Fresno State,
California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
,
University of Hawaiʻi
The University of Hawaiʻi System is a public college and university system in Hawaii. The system confers associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees through three universities, seven community colleges, an employment training center, ...
, and
San Diego State
San Diego State University (SDSU) is a public research university in San Diego, California, United States. Founded in 1897, it is the third-oldest university and southernmost in the 23-member California State University (CSU) system. SDSU is ...
. Adams committed to play
college football
College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...
at Fresno State.
College career
Adams attended
California State University, Fresno
California State University, Fresno (Fresno State) is a public university in Fresno, California, United States. It is part of the California State University system. The university had a fall 2020 enrollment of 25,341 students. It offers 60 ba ...
, where he played on the
Fresno State Bulldogs football
The Fresno State Bulldogs football team represents California State University, Fresno, in NCAA Division I FBS college football as a member of the Mountain West Conference. The green "V" on the Bulldogs' helmets, uniforms, and playing field symb ...
team from 2011 to 2013.
In 2011, Adams
redshirted
Redshirt, in United States college athletics, is a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen their period of eligibility. Typically, a student's athletic eligibility in a given sport is four seasons, aligning with the ...
as a
true freshman
The following terms are used in American football, both conventional and indoor. Some of these terms are also in use in Canadian football; for a list of terms unique to that code, see '' Glossary of Canadian football''.
0–9
...
at Fresno State in his only season with then-head coach
Pat Hill
Lawrence Patrick Hill (born December 17, 1951) is an American football coach, former player, and broadcaster. He served as the head football coach at Fresno State from 1997 until his dismissal following the 2011 season. In 15 seasons as head ...
.
2012 season
In the 2012 season, Adams had a new head coach in
Tim DeRuyter
Timothy James DeRuyter ( ; born January 3, 1963) is an American football coach and former player who is the former defensive coordinator at Texas Tech University. He previously served in the same capacity at the University of Oregon in 2021 and ...
. He became an instant contributor in the Bulldogs' 9–4 season. In his collegiate debut, he had 118 receiving yards and two touchdowns in a win over the
Weber State Wildcats
The Weber State Wildcats are the varsity athletic teams representing Weber State University in Ogden, Utah in intercollegiate athletics, sponsoring 16 teams. The Wildcats compete in NCAA Division I FCS and are charter members (1963) of the Big ...
on September 1, 2012. On September 29, against the
San Diego State Aztecs
The San Diego State Aztecs are the college athletics in the United States, intercollegiate athletic teams that represent San Diego State University (SDSU). The university fields 17 varsity teams (6 men's, 11 women's) in National Collegiate Athle ...
, he had eight receptions for 102 yards. On October 6, against the
Colorado State Rams
The Colorado State Rams are the athletic teams that represent Colorado State University (CSU). Colorado State's athletic teams compete along with 8 other institutions in the Mountain West Conference, which is an NCAA Division I conference and s ...
, he had the first of eight consecutive games with a receiving touchdown. In the win, he had four receptions for 41 yards and two touchdowns. On October 27, a road game against the
New Mexico Lobos
The New Mexico Lobos are the sport, athletic teams that represent the University of New Mexico, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Albuquerque. The university participates in the NCAA Division I in the Mountain West Conference (MW) since 1999 ...
, he had nine receptions for 198 yards and two touchdowns. On November 10, in a road game against the
Nevada Wolf Pack
The Nevada Wolf Pack are the athletic teams that represent the University of Nevada, Reno. They are part of NCAA's Division I's Mountain West Conference. It was founded on October 24, 1896 with football as the Sagebrushers in Reno, Nevada.
H ...
, he had nine receptions for 120 yards and a touchdown. In the regular season finale against the
Air Force Falcons
The Air Force Falcons are the College athletics in the United States, intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the United States Air Force Academy, located in El Paso County, Colorado north of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Colorado Springs. Th ...
, he had nine receptions for 141 yards and two touchdowns. On
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve is the evening or entire day before Christmas, the festival commemorating nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus. Christmas Day is observance of Christmas by country, observed around the world, and Christma ...
, against the
SMU Mustangs
The SMU Mustangs are the sport, athletic teams that represent Southern Methodist University in University Park, Texas, United States. SMU was founded in 1911 and joined the Southwest Conference, competing against Baylor Bears, Baylor, Rice Owls, ...
, he had 13 receptions for 144 yards and a touchdown in the 43–10 loss in the
2012 Hawaii Bowl. Overall, in the 2012 season, he had 102 receptions for 1,312 yards and 14 touchdowns. All three led the
Mountain West Conference
The Mountain West Conference (MW) is a collegiate athletic conference in the Western United States, participating in NCAA Division I. Its football teams compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). The MW officially began operations on Ja ...
. He was the conference's Freshman of the Year and a freshman
All-American
The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed on outstanding athletes in the United States who are considered to be among the best athletes in their respective sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an Al ...
. He was the MVP of the
2012 Hawaii Bowl.
2013 season
Adams continued to be a very productive member of the offense in the Bulldogs' 11–2 season in 2013. He started the 2013 season with 14 receptions for 148 yards and two touchdowns in a 52–51 win over the
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are the athletic teams that represent Rutgers University's New Brunswick campus. In sports, Rutgers is famously known for being the "Birthplace of College Football", hosting the first ever intercollegiate football ...
. On September 20, against the
Boise State Broncos
The Boise State Broncos are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Boise State University, located in Boise, Idaho. The Broncos compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level as a member of the Mount ...
, he had 12 receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown in the 41–40 victory to give the Bulldogs a 3–0 record. On October 5, in a road game against the
Idaho Vandals
The Idaho Vandals are the intercollegiate athletic teams representing the University of Idaho, located in Moscow, Idaho. The Vandals compete at the NCAA Division I level as a member of the Big Sky Conference.
The Idaho Vandals football, footbal ...
, he had 16 receptions for 185 yards and three touchdowns in the 61–14 victory. Two weeks later, against the
UNLV Rebels
The UNLV Rebels are the college athletics in the United States, intercollegiate athletics teams that represent the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). The Rebels compete in the NCAA Division I (NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, Footb ...
, he had eight receptions for 221 yards and four touchdowns in the 38–14 victory. Adams scored on a 75-yard touchdown to start the game. On November 23, against the
New Mexico Lobos
The New Mexico Lobos are the sport, athletic teams that represent the University of New Mexico, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Albuquerque. The university participates in the NCAA Division I in the Mountain West Conference (MW) since 1999 ...
, he had nine receptions for 246 yards and four touchdowns in the 69–28 victory to help get the Bulldogs to a 10–0 record. In the following road game against the
San Jose State Spartans
The San Jose State Spartans are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent San José State University. SJSU sports teams compete in the Mountain West Conference at the NCAA Division I level, with football competing in the Football Bowl S ...
, he had 13 receptions for 264 yards and three touchdowns in the 62–52 loss, Fresno State's first of the season. On December 7, against the
Utah State Aggies
The Utah State Aggies are the college athletics in the United States, intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Utah State University, located in Logan, Utah. Utah State fields 16 – seven men and nine women – National Collegiate Athletic ...
in the regular season finale, he had nine receptions for 168 yards and a touchdown in the
MWC Championship Game. In his final collegiate game, the
2013 Las Vegas Bowl against the
USC Trojans
The USC Trojans (also Southern California Trojans) are the College athletics in the United States, intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles. While the men's teams are nicknamed the ...
, he had nine receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown. Overall, in the 2013 season, he led the nation with 131 receptions for 1,719 yards and 24 touchdowns. He set a Mountain West Conference record with his 24 touchdown receptions, eight more than any player in the country in 2013, and the total ranks fourth in single-season FBS history. He also set Fresno State career records for receptions (233) and touchdown receptions (38) despite playing just two seasons for the Bulldogs. He was named second-team All-America by The
Associated Press
The Associated Press (AP) is an American not-for-profit organization, not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City.
Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association, and produces news reports that are dist ...
.
On December 27, 2013, Adams announced that he would forgo his final two college seasons and enter the
2014 NFL draft
The 2014 NFL draft was the 79th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible football players to the league. The draft, officially the "Player Selection Meeting", was held at Radio City Music Hall in New Y ...
.
College statistics
Professional career
Green Bay Packers
2014–2017

Adams was selected in the second round with the 53rd overall pick by the
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They ar ...
in the 2014 NFL draft. He was the ninth wide receiver to be selected that year. On June 12, 2014, he signed a contract with the Packers.
After playing in the number four receiver slot in his NFL debut in the 2014 season against the
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle. The Seahawks compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC West, West division. The club entered the NFL a ...
, Adams took 37 snaps in the second game against the
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Jets compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The team p ...
, where he had 5 catches for 50 yards. Entrenched as the Packers' number three receiver, on October 2, Adams scored his first NFL touchdown on an 11-yard pass from
Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Charles Rodgers (born December 2, 1983) is an American professional American football, football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the California Golden Bears foo ...
in a 42–10 victory over the
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. The Vikings compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. Founded in 1960 as ...
. The score was Rodgers' 200th career touchdown pass. On October 26, Adams had a personal-best 7 receptions in a loss to the
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans. The Saints compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. Since 1975, the team ...
. He tallied his first 100-yard receiving game on November 30 with six receptions for 121 yards in a 26–21 win over the
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area. The Patriots compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The Pa ...
. Though a distant third to
Jordy Nelson
Jordy Ray Nelson (born May 31, 1985) is an American former professional American football, football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons with the Green Bay Packers and the Oakland Raiders. He played ...
and
Randall Cobb, Adams' 446 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns were a solid rookie contribution to the 12–4 Packers. On January 11, 2015, Adams set the Packers' rookie record for receiving yards in a playoff game with 117 in the victory over the
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. T ...
, including a 46-yard touchdown. In the
NFC Championship
The NFC Championship Game is the annual championship game of the National Football Conference (NFC) and one of the two semifinal playoff games of the National Football League (NFL), the largest professional American football league in the world. ...
against the Seattle Seahawks, he was held to one reception for seven yards in the 28–22 overtime loss.

Adams started the 2015 season with four receptions for 59 yards in a 31–23 victory over the
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They are one of two remaining ...
. Adams missed three games after an ankle injury in Week 2. On November 8, against the
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. The t ...
, he had seven receptions for a season-high 93 yards. In the following game, he had a season-high 10 receptions for 79 yards in the loss to the
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. The team plays their home game ...
. On December 3, in the second divisional game against the Lions, he had his only touchdown of the season in
the 27–23 victory. His second season was a "dud",
finishing fourth on the team in receptions (50) and receiving yards (483), with 1 touchdown, all for a team without star
Jordy Nelson
Jordy Ray Nelson (born May 31, 1985) is an American former professional American football, football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons with the Green Bay Packers and the Oakland Raiders. He played ...
. However, his efforts preparing for 2016 earned him the unofficial "off-season MVP" award.
His work-ethic paid off, as Adams recorded five touchdowns through his first six games in the 2016 season. On October 26, Adams was named
NFC
NFC usually refers to:
* Near-field communication, a set of communication protocols for electronic devices
* National Football Conference, part of US National Football League
NFC may also refer to:
Psychology
* Need for cognition, in psychol ...
Offensive Player of the Week after catching 13 passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns against the Bears in Week 7. He topped this total with a Packers' season-best 156 yards in a 47–25 road loss against the
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. They play the ...
. On November 28, against the
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. The Eagles compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. The team plays its ...
, he had 113 yards and two touchdowns in the 27–13 victory. Adams finished as the Packers' second-leading receiver with 997 yards on 75 catches for 12 touchdowns (as well as second in the NFL only to teammate
Jordy Nelson
Jordy Ray Nelson (born May 31, 1985) is an American former professional American football, football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons with the Green Bay Packers and the Oakland Raiders. He played ...
). Adams began the post-season with eight receptions including a touchdown, and the 13th-most post-season receiving yards in Packers history with 125 in a win over the
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. The ...
. He added 76 yards in the division win over the Cowboys, and a touchdown in the
NFC Championship loss to the
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta. The Falcons compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. The Falcons were founded o ...
.

Adams began the 2017 season with three receptions for 47 yards in a 17–9 home victory over the Seahawks. In Week 2, in a 34–23 loss to the Falcons, Adams had eight receptions for 99 yards, which included a 33-yard touchdown. In the Week 4 game against the Bears, Adams had to be taken to a hospital in an ambulance after a strong helmet-to-helmet hit by Chicago linebacker
Danny Trevathan, who earned a 2-game suspension (later reduced to one game). The next week, he returned to record 7 receptions for 66 yards and 2 touchdowns, including the game-winner with 11 seconds left against the Cowboys. Early in Week 6, starter
Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Charles Rodgers (born December 2, 1983) is an American professional American football, football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the California Golden Bears foo ...
suffered a broken
clavicle
The clavicle, collarbone, or keybone is a slender, S-shaped long bone approximately long that serves as a strut between the scapula, shoulder blade and the sternum (breastbone). There are two clavicles, one on each side of the body. The clavic ...
against the Minnesota Vikings, and would not return for nine weeks. With inexperienced back-up quarterback
Brett Hundley
Brett Alan Hundley Jr. (born June 15, 1993) is an American former professional American football, football quarterback. He played college football for the UCLA Bruins football, UCLA Bruins, where he was the school's career leader in both total of ...
, Adams averaged five receptions for 40 yards in three straight losses, before recording 90 yards on five receptions and the eventual game-winning touchdown in a Week 10 win over the Bears. He also went for 126 yards on eight receptions against the
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore. The Ravens compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The team plays its home g ...
in Week 11, as well as 82 yards, including a season-long 55-yard touchdown, in a 31–28 road loss to the
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh. The Steelers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. Founded in 1933 P ...
in Week 12. After catching only four passes for 42 yards in Week 13 against the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (colloquially known as the Bucs) are a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC S ...
, Adams had his first 10-reception game of the season for another 82 yards, including the game-tying touchdown with 17 seconds left, and a 25-yard walk-off touchdown in overtime, to defeat the
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland. The Browns compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The team is named after ...
. At that point, he was tied for second in the NFL with 9 receiving touchdowns. In Week 15, Adams suffered another concussion following a helmet-to-helmet hit from Panthers linebacker
Thomas Davis. Due to the concussion, Adams missed the final two games of the season. He finished the season starting in 14 games, and was first on the team with 74 catches for 885 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was named to his first Pro Bowl and was ranked 45th by his peers on the
NFL Top 100 Players of 2018
The NFL Top 100 Players of 2018 was the eighth season in the series. It ended with reigning NFL MVP Tom Brady being ranked #1, making him the only player to be voted #1 three times, already being the only player to be voted first more than once. ...
.
On December 29, 2017, Adams signed a four-year, $58 million contract extension with the Packers.
2018–2022
With the return of Aaron Rodgers from injury, Adams had a touchdown reception in each of the Packers' first three games of the 2018 season, while averaging 6.7 receptions for 68 yards.
En route to eight receptions for 81 yards in Week 4,
Adams suffered a calf injury but continued to play due to more severe injuries to teammates
Randall Cobb and
Geronimo Allison
Geronimo John Allison (born January 18, 1994) is an American professional gridiron football, football wide receiver. He played college football at Illinois Fighting Illini football, Illinois, and was signed by the Green Bay Packers in 2016 as an ...
. In Week 5, Adams had nine receptions for 140 yards and a touchdown in a 31–23 loss to the Lions. In a Week 6 ''
Monday Night Football
''Monday Night Football'' (often abbreviated as ''MNF'') is the branding used for broadcasts of National Football League (NFL) games that air on Monday nights. It originally ran on American Broadcasting Company, ABC from 1970 NFL season, 1970 t ...
'' win over the
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers (also written as the San Francisco Forty-Niners and nicknamed the Niners) are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member ...
, Adams recorded 10 receptions for 132 yards and two touchdowns, including a 38-yard reception, a 16-yard game-tying touchdown, and two catches for 27 yards to set up the go-ahead field goal, all of which happened in the final three minutes. After a Week 7 bye, Adams had his third consecutive 100-yard game with five receptions for 133 yards in a narrow 29–27 road loss to the
Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams are a professional American football team based in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles area. The Rams compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC West, West ...
. After being limited in yards but recording three touchdowns in his next two games, Adams had a career-best 166 yards on 10 receptions in a Week 11 loss to the Seahawks.
A week later, in a 24–17 loss to the Vikings, Adams had five receptions for 69 yards and a touchdown. His performance contributed to reaching 1,000 receiving yards in a season for the first time in his career. Adams also scored his tenth touchdown of the season, which gave him his third consecutive season of double-digit receiving touchdowns. He had a touchdown in each of the next two games as well. In Week 15 against the Bears, Adams had eight catches for 119 yards in a 24–17 loss, putting him over 100 receptions in a season for the first time in his career. In Week 16 against the Jets, with the Packers eliminated from the playoffs, Adams had 11 receptions for 71 yards and caught the game-winning touchdown in overtime. Rather than risk worsening a nagging knee injury, Adams sat out the final week of the season, finishing with one reception (111 total) and 133 yards (1,386 total) short of the franchise season receiving records. He was named to his second Pro Bowl, and was ranked 35th by his fellow players on the
NFL Top 100 Players of 2019
The NFL Top 100 Players of 2019 was the ninth season in the series. It premiered on July 22, 2019 and the final episode aired on July 31, 2019. It started later in the year, and the show was shown in 10 consecutive days instead. Los Angeles Rams d ...
.

During Week 2 of the 2019 season against the Vikings, Adams caught seven passes for 106 yards as the Packers won 21–16. Two weeks later against the Eagles, Adams recorded a career-high 180 yards receiving on 10 receptions, before exiting the game with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter with a
turf toe
Sod is the upper layer of turf that is harvested for transplanting. Turf consists of a variable thickness of a soil medium that supports a community of turfgrasses.
In British and Australian English, sod is more commonly known as ''turf'', ...
injury. The Packers went on to lose 34–27. Adams missed the next four games; he returned to the field during a Week 9 road loss of 26–11 to the
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers are a professional American football team based in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles area. The Chargers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC W ...
, finishing with seven receptions for 41 yards. In the next game against the Panthers, Adams caught seven passes for 118 yards in the 24–16 victory. After a Week 11 bye, the Packers went on the road to face the 49ers. In that game, Adams caught seven passes for 43 yards, along with his first touchdown of the season and a two-point conversion, accounting for all of the Packers' points in the 37–8 loss. During Week 13 against the Giants, Adams caught six passes for 64 yards and two touchdowns in the 31–13 road victory. Two weeks later against the Bears, he caught seven passes for 103 yards and a touchdown during the 21–13 win. In the next game against the Vikings on ''Monday Night Football'', Adams caught 13 passes for 116 yards in a 23–10 road victory. He finished the season with 83 receptions for 997 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns. He was named to his third consecutive Pro Bowl. In the
Divisional Round against the Seahawks, Adams caught eight passes for a postseason-franchise record 160 yards and two touchdowns during the 28–23 victory. In the
NFC Championship
The NFC Championship Game is the annual championship game of the National Football Conference (NFC) and one of the two semifinal playoff games of the National Football League (NFL), the largest professional American football league in the world. ...
against the 49ers, he had nine receptions for 138 yards in the 37–20 road loss. In the process, Adams became the only Packer with two games of 100+ receiving yards in a single postseason game coupled with three career postseason games for 125+ receiving yards. He was ranked 57th by his fellow players on the
NFL Top 100 Players of 2020
The NFL Top 100 Players of 2020 is the tenth season in the NFL Top 100 series. It premiered on July 26, 2020 and the final episode aired on July 29, 2020. It started later than in previous years, and the show was shown in 4 consecutive days inste ...
.
During Week 1 of the 2020 season against the Vikings, Adams finished with 156 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns on 14 receptions (tying
Don Hutson
Donald Montgomery Hutson (January 31, 1913 – June 26, 1997), nicknamed "the Alabama Antelope", was an American professional football player and coach in the National Football League (NFL). In the era of the one-platoon football, he played a ...
's franchise record) as the Packers won 43–34. During Week 7 against the
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston. The Texans compete in the National Football League as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. The team plays its home games at N ...
, Adams finished with 13 catches for 196 receiving yards and two touchdowns as the Packers won 35–20. In Week 8 against the Vikings, he had seven receptions for 53 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns in the 28–22 loss. In Week 9 against the 49ers on ''
Thursday Night Football
''Thursday Night Football'' (often abbreviated as ''TNF'') is the branding used for broadcasts of National Football League (NFL) games that broadcast primarily on Thursday nights. Most of the games kick off at 8:15 Eastern Time (8:20 prior to ...
'', he had ten receptions for 173 receiving yards and a touchdown in the 34–17 victory. In Week 11 against the
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. The Colts compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. Since the 2008 India ...
, Adams recorded seven catches for 106 yards and a touchdown during the 34–31 overtime loss. In Week 12 against the Bears, Adams recorded his 500th career catch on a 12-yard touchdown pass from
Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Charles Rodgers (born December 2, 1983) is an American professional American football, football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the California Golden Bears foo ...
, becoming the fifth receiver in Packers history to reach that mark. In Week 13 against the Eagles, Adams recorded ten catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns during the 30–16 win. Adams' second touchdown reception was the 400th career touchdown pass thrown by Aaron Rodgers.
In Week 14 against the Lions, Adams recorded seven catches for 115 yards and a touchdown during the 31–24 win. On December 21, 2020, he was selected for the
2021 Pro Bowl
The 2021 Pro Bowl was to be the National Football League (NFL) all-star game for the 2020 NFL season, originally scheduled to be played on January 31, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada.
On October 14, 2020, the NFL announced that it ...
. Despite heavy snowfall, Adams caught 11 passes for 142 yards and three touchdowns in a 40–14 rout of the Titans on ''
Sunday Night Football'' in Week 16. The outing helped the Adams-Rodgers connection set the new Packers team record of 492 completions which took seven seasons. Overall, he finished the 2020 season with 115 receptions for 1,374 receiving yards and 18 receiving touchdowns. Adams had a historic season in 2020: he led the league in with 18 receiving touchdowns, the most since Randy Moss had 23 in 2007, and tying Sterling Sharpe's single-season franchise record (1994). His 115 receptions also set a franchise best, usurping Sharpe's 1993 season. On January 8, 2021, he made the
2020 All-Pro Team
The 2020 All-Pro teams were named by the Associated Press (AP), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), and ''Sporting News'' (SN) for performance in the 2020 NFL season. Any player selected to the first-team of any of the teams can be described ...
first-team. In the
Divisional Round of the playoffs against the Rams, Adams recorded nine catches for 66 yards and a touchdown during the 32–18 win.
In the
NFC Championship
The NFC Championship Game is the annual championship game of the National Football Conference (NFC) and one of the two semifinal playoff games of the National Football League (NFL), the largest professional American football league in the world. ...
against the Buccaneers, Adams recorded nine catches for 67 yards and a touchdown during the 31–26 loss. He was ranked sixth by his fellow players on the
NFL Top 100 Players of 2021
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The N ...
.
In the first month on the 2021 season, Adams had a 121-yard game against the Lions and a 12-catch, 132-yard game against the 49ers in Week 2. In Week 5 against the
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional American football team based in Cincinnati. The Bengals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The team plays its h ...
, Adams secured a career-high 206 yards on 11 receptions alongside a touchdown in the 25–22 overtime win. In Week 11 against the Vikings, Adams caught seven passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns in the 31–34 loss. In Week 13 against the Bears, Adams caught ten passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns in the 45–30 win. On December 23, 2021, Adams was named to his fifth consecutive
Pro Bowl
The National Football League All-Star Game (1939–1942), Pro Bowl (1951–2022), or Pro Bowl Games (since 2023) is an annual event held by the National Football League (NFL) featuring the league's All-star, star players.
The format has changed ...
. He broke his own single-season franchise record for receptions the following week with an 11 reception, 136-yard, one touchdown performance in a 37–10 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. He then broke the Packers' single season receiving yards record the following week, ending with 1,553 yards in a season. For the fifth consecutive season, he was named to the Pro Bowl. He was selected to the
2021 All-Pro Team
The 2021 All-Pro teams were named by the Associated Press (AP), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), and ''Sporting News'' (SN) for performance in the 2021 NFL season. Any player selected to the first-team of any of the teams can be described ...
for the second consecutive season. In the
Divisional Round against the San Francisco 49ers, he had nine receptions for 90 yards in the 13–10 loss. He was ranked seventh by his fellow players on the
NFL Top 100 Players of 2022.
On March 8, 2022, the Packers placed a
franchise tag
In the National Football League (NFL), the franchise tag is a designation a team may apply to a player scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. The tag binds the player to the team for one year if certain conditions are met. Each team has on ...
on Adams. On March 14, Adams informed the Packers that he would not play under the franchise tag for the 2022 season.
Las Vegas Raiders
On March 18, 2022, the Packers traded Adams to the
Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders are a professional American football team based in the Las Vegas Valley, Las Vegas metropolitan area. The Raiders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC West ...
in exchange for their 2022 first-round pick (later used to select
Quay Walker) and second-round pick.
Along with the trade, Adams signed a five-year, $141.25M deal, making him the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL at the time of the signing.
The trade also reunited Adams with his college quarterback
Derek Carr
Derek Dallas Carr (born March 28, 1991) is an American former professional football quarterback who played 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Fresno State Bulldogs, receiving first-team All-Mou ...
, with whom he played at
Fresno State
California State University, Fresno (Fresno State) is a public university in Fresno, California, United States. It is part of the California State University system. The university had a fall 2020 enrollment of 25,341 students. It offers 60 ba ...
from 2012 to 2013.
Adams made his Raiders debut in Week 1 of the 2022 season against the Chargers, where he caught 10 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown in the 19–24 loss. Adams's first win with the Raiders came in Week 4 with a 32–23 victory over the
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver. The Broncos compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC West, West division. The team is headquartered in E ...
in a game where Adams had nine receptions for 101 yards. In Week 5, against the
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) West division.
Established in 1959 ...
, Adams had three receptions for 124 yards and two touchdowns in the 30–29 loss. After the game, he shoved cameraman Ryan Zebley to the ground while walking towards the tunnel to exit the field. Adams later apologized to Zebley and said that frustration over the way the game had ended caused him to react rashly. Zebley was hospitalized for his injuries and pressed charges through the Kansas City Police Department. Adams was later charged with misdemeanor assault. On December 21, 2022, Adams was named to his sixth consecutive Pro Bowl. He earned first team All-Pro honors for the third time. He finished the season with 100 receptions, 1,516 receiving yards and a league leading 14 touchdowns. His yardage set the Raiders franchise record for most receiving yards in a season. He was ranked 13th by his fellow players on the
NFL Top 100 Players of 2023.
In Week 3 of the 2023 season, Adams had 13 receptions for 172 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to the Steelers. In Week 4, Adams recorded 10,000 receiving yards for his career. In Week 17 against the Colts, he had 13 receptions for 126 yards and two touchdowns in the loss. In the 2023 season, Adams started in all 17 games. He finished the 2023 season with 103 receptions for 1,144 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns.
In Week 2 of the 2024 season, Adams caught nine passes for 110 yards and a touchdown in a win over the Ravens. On September 26, three days before their Week 4 game against the Browns, Adams injured his hamstring during practice. The Raiders subsequently ruled him out for Week 4 and the next two games, marking his first missed games since the 2021 season. During this time, reports surfaced that Adams had requested a trade from the Raiders.
New York Jets
On October 15, 2024, the Raiders traded Adams to the
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Jets compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The team p ...
in exchange for a
2025
So far, the year has seen the continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudanese civil war, and the Gaza war. Internal crises in Bangladesh post-resignation v ...
conditional mid-round draft selection that if Adams were to be named to the
2024 All-Pro Team
The 2024 All-Pro teams were named by the Associated Press (AP), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), and ''The Sporting News'' (TSN) for performance in the 2024 NFL season. Any player selected to any of the teams can be described as an "Al ...
as either a first or second-team All-Pro, or the Jets advanced to the AFC Championship Game or
Super Bowl LIX
Super Bowl LIX was an American football championship game played to determine the champion of the National Football League (NFL) for the 2024 NFL season, 2024 season. In a rematch of Super Bowl LVII two years prior, the National Football Conf ...
with Adams on their active roster, would have been a second round selection. However, neither conditions were met, resulting in the Raiders obtaining the Lions' 2025 third-round selection instead (which was later traded to the
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle. The Seahawks compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC West, West division. The club entered the NFL a ...
for
Geno Smith
Eugene Cyril "Geno" Smith III (born October 10, 1990) is an American professional football quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the West Virginia Mountaineers, leading them ...
). The trade reunited Adams with Aaron Rodgers, whom he played with from 2014 to 2021 with the Green Bay Packers.
With Adams healthy, he made his Jet debut on October 20 against the
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh. The Steelers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. Founded in 1933 P ...
, catching three passes for 30 yards in the first half, but he and the Jets were shut out in the second half as they lost 37–15. In Week 9 against the
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston. The Texans compete in the National Football League as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. The team plays its home games at N ...
, Adams briefly left the game to be evaluated for a head injury. He returned in the fourth quarter and caught a 37-yard touchdown pass to seal the Jets' 21–13 victory. After being blanked in the first half of the Jets' Week 15 matchup against the
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. The team ...
, Adams erupted for 198 yards and two touchdowns on nine receptions in the second half, highlighted by a career-long 71-yard score as the Jets won 32–25, snapping a four-game losing streak. Adams also became the 12th receiver in NFL history to reach 100 career receiving touchdowns. He finished the 2024 season with 85 receptions for 1,063 yards and eight touchdowns.
On March 4, 2025, Adams was released by the Jets.
Los Angeles Rams
On March 9, 2025, Adams agreed to a two-year, $44 million deal with the Los Angeles Rams.
NFL career statistics
Regular season
Postseason
Personal life
Adams
married
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...
Devanne Villarreal on June 2, 2018.
In 2024, Adams starred in the
Netflix original
Netflix is an American global Internet streaming-on-demand media provider that has distributed a number of original streaming television shows, including original series, specials, miniseries, documentaries and films. Netflix's original produ ...
series ''
Receiver'', alongside
Justin Jefferson
Justin Jamal Jefferson (born June 16, 1999) is an American professional American football, football wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the LSU Tigers football, LSU Tiger ...
,
Amon-Ra St. Brown
Amon-Ra Julian Heru John St. Brown (born October 24, 1999) is a German-American professional American football, football wide receiver for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the USC Trojans fo ...
,
George Kittle, and
Deebo Samuel
Tyshun Raequan "Deebo" Samuel Sr. (born January 15, 1996) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks and w ...
. The show covered Adams and the other players during the
2023 NFL season
The 2023 NFL season was the 104th season of the National Football League (NFL). The regular season began on September 7, 2023, with defending Super Bowl LVII champion Kansas City losing to Detroit in the NFL Kickoff Game, and ended on January ...
.
See also
*
*
List of NCAA major college football yearly receiving leaders
The list of college football yearly receiving leaders identifies the major college receiving leaders for each season from 1937 to the present. It includes yearly leaders in three statistical categories: (1) receptions, (2) receiving yardage; (3) ...
References
External links
Los Angeles Rams bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Adams, Davante
1992 births
Living people
American Conference Pro Bowl players
American football wide receivers
Fresno State Bulldogs football players
Green Bay Packers players
Las Vegas Raiders players
Los Angeles Rams players
National Conference Pro Bowl players
New York Jets players
Palo Alto High School alumni
Players of American football from East Palo Alto, California
Players of American football from Redwood City, California
Players of American football from Palo Alto, California