Jamal Adams thankful to reunite with Jets: 'I do miss those guys ... this is bigger than football'

The Seahawks dominated the Jets for a 40-3 rout Sunday at Lumen Field in Seattle, and safety Jamal Adams enjoyed a strong game against his former team. He totaled five tackles and one sack, setting the NFL's single-season record for sacks by a defensive back with 8 1/2 over nine games in 2020.

While the Seahawks (9-4) recorded a blowout win over Gang Green (0-13), Adams enjoyed the chance to reunite with his ex-teammates on a personal level afterward, seen hugging rookie left tackle Mekhi Becton among others. After the game, he opened up on a "bigger than football" aspect.

"Throughout the whole week, man, just leading up to it -- I wanted to stay very calm, I didn't want to express too many feelings and whatnot. But when I woke up this morning, I was so excited," Adams said. "... I was really excited to see those guys because when you get drafted, you don't take that for granted, right?

"I've always prided myself on my work ethic and the sacrifice that I always give. And just to know that those guys took a chance on me and drafted me at a very high (spot) -- as a top-10 pick, right -- and giving me a chance and believing in me, I don't take that for granted and I'll never take that away from them.

"So I appreciate the Jets organization for taking a chance on me, and I'll never forget the memories that I did have and what we made over there. So seeing the guys, seeing the coaches ... seeing so many guys, it just brings back a lot of memories because I do miss those guys, right, and this is bigger than football. It goes back to just relationships and that's a special thing about the game of football."

Earlier in the week, Adams shared a similar sentiment. Despite a messy ending to his three-year tenure with the Jets from 2017-19, he expressed no ill will for New York and head coach Adam Gase.

"I saw him after the game," Gase said. "I hugged him and told him, 'Stay healthy and try to get one.'"

"He just told me, 'Go get you one,'" Adams said. "He was talking about a Super Bowl, and a lot of the guys came up to us ... but he just congratulated me and wished me well, told me to stay healthy and it's pretty cool, man. At the end of the day, man, again, I'll say it -- I don't have any hate towards, not even just Gase, to the organization. Everybody just had different views and we had to move different. We had to take a different leap and, obviously, the trade happened and I'm happy to be here, man.

"So I wish those guys nothing but the best. I really do. I mean that. I know a lot of the Jet fans don't really think I'm coming from the heart, but I really am. I'm thankful for my time over there because I don't take it for granted. Those guys helped me in so many ways. ... Playing with (safety) Marcus Maye -- I'm not happy that he got a pick out there, but when I saw him make the pick, I definitely saluted him because that's my guy, man, and it's so many guys over there that I can name. So hats off to 'em. Those guys got to keep battling and, eventually, they'll figure it out. So it's nothing but love from my way, man."