He eagerly awaited something most would consider an afterthought at this point in his career, despite playing nine seasons in the NFL and being probably the league's most decorated wide receiver.
Adams rarely seeks recognition. He's always been self-motivated. From pushing himself beyond his high standards.
He never texted Las Vegas Raiders PR for a heads-up: “When you know the list. "I don't care if it's good or bad, if I'm second-team or whatever," Adams texted in January. Inform me.
Adams finished his debut season with the Raiders following eight years with the Packers.
Adams became the NFL's highest-paid receiver when Green Bay traded him to Las Vegas in March 2022.
In his first season with the Raiders, he had 1,500-plus receiving yards again, becoming the sixth player in NFL history to do it. His 14 receiving touchdowns lead the league.
Adams adds, “If I hadn’t gotten first-team All-Pro, this is the first year I would’ve actually cared.
He finally got a "Congrats!" SMS in January. Adams smiled, looked up at the ceiling, and exhaled gently.
Adams adds, “When I got it, I was like, ‘All right, I’ll never care about another one.’” Naturally, he wants more.
He's still chasing the record for most consecutive Associated Press first-team All-Pros by a receiver with three. From 1992 to 1996, Jerry Rice won five.