By Moses Joshua 
Jamal Adams’ parting shot at the Lions may come back to haunt him as the regular season unfolds
A Departure Laced with Bitterness
In professional sports, parting ways with a team usually comes with the standard farewell — a note of gratitude, a nod to teammates, and a diplomatic bow out. Veteran safety Jamal Adams, however, took a different route after his brief stint with the Detroit Lions.
Adams, who signed with the Lions in the final stretch of the 2024 regular season, made headlines this week not for his new contract with the Las Vegas Raiders, but for his social media jab at Detroit and several other teams that passed on him. Rather than offering thanks or reflection, the three-time All-Pro seemed to express relief that certain teams — Detroit among them — decided not to bring him back.
A Short Stay in the Motor City
Adams’ tenure with the Lions was short and largely unremarkable. Signed late in the 2024 campaign as a depth piece during a stretch of defensive injuries, Adams started two games, logged three tackles, and was released on January 1, 2025, once Detroit’s regulars returned to health.
While his stay in Detroit barely moved the needle statistically, the Lions didn’t appear to burn any bridges — at least publicly. Adams, on the other hand, seemed eager to close the book with a little fire.
A Reunion Fueled by Loyalty, Not Performance
Now with the Raiders, Adams reunites with his former Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll. It’s a move that seems driven more by familiarity than form. Since suffering a torn quad tendon in Week 1 of the 2022 season, Adams has struggled to regain the explosive impact that once made him one of the league’s top safeties.
Prior to Detroit, Adams barely registered on the radar with the Titans, playing just 20 snaps over three games before asking for his release. The Raiders, desperate for leadership in the secondary, are gambling on a connection that worked in the past — even if recent film paints a grimmer picture.
A Premature Shot?
Adams’ comment may have been aimed at the Lions, but Detroit fans have little reason to bite back. The franchise is laser-focused on bigger goals — chasing its first-ever NFC Championship and a trip to the Super Bowl.
Should the Lions find themselves playing deep into January while the Raiders watch from home, Adams may come to regret the post that caused a ripple for all the wrong reasons.
Time, as always, will be the final judge.