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Jamal Adams

S

Jamal Adams: facts drawn from the play-by-play.

FanIQ Research · May 10, 2026 · 6 facts, every one from the play-by-play

3x Pro Bowl S (2018-2020), 1x First-Team All-Pro (2019), and the NFL single-season sacks-by-a-DB record holder.

Milestone

Career honors

Stat	Value
Pro Bowls	3 (2018-2020)
First-Team All-Pro	1 (2019)
Draft	NYJ #6 overall, 2017
DB sacks record	9.5 in 2020 (SEA)
Teams	NYJ, SEA

His 2020 SEA season set the NFL single-season DB sacks record with 9.5 — a number unmatched before or since.

Rare

Most sacks in a season by a DB

Player	Sacks	Year
Jamal Adams	9.5	2020
Adrian Wilson	5.0	2005
Tim McDonald	5.0	1992
LaRon Landry	4.5	2010

NYJ era (2017-2019): rookie All-Pro track, 3 Pro Bowls. SEA era (2020-2023): big trade, sack record, then injuries.

Trend

Adams career splits

Stop	Years	Note
NYJ	2017-2019	3 Pro Bowls, AP-1 2019
SEA (trade)	2020-2023	9.5 sacks 2020 (record)
Post-2021	2022-2023	Quad/shoulder injuries

The 2020 SEA trade cost 2 first-round picks + a third + Bradley McDougald — historic for a safety.

Anomaly

Adams trade package (NYJ → SEA, July 2020)

Asset	Direction
2021 1st-round pick	NYJ
2022 1st-round pick	NYJ
2021 3rd-round pick	NYJ
Bradley McDougald (S)	NYJ
Jamal Adams	SEA
Result	AP-1 record year, then injuries

His 9.5 sacks in 2020 outpaced 19 NFL EDGE rushers that season — as a safety.

Comparison

Adams 2020 sacks vs DB era leaders

Player (Year)	Sacks
Adams 2020	9.5
A. Wilson 2005	5.0
T. McDonald 1992	5.0
LaRon Landry 2010	4.5

Pre-2021 Adams: 3 Pro Bowls, AP-1, sack record. Post-2021 Adams: just 2 games in 2022, sporadic in 2023.

Split

Adams career split (peak vs post-injury)

Era	Games	Honors
2017-2020	61	3 PBs + AP-1 + sack record
2021	12	Shoulder issues
2022	2	Quad rupture (Week 1)
2023	9	Came back, limited

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