Andrew Adams was signed by the New York Giants in May of 2016 as an undrafted free agent rookie out of the University of Connecticut. He spent two seasons with the Giants, playing in 30 games, recording 80 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 7 pass defends, and 1 interception.
After being waived by the Giants in September of 2018, he was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers opted to sign him after having to place safety Chris Conte on the injury reserve list.
Adams played in his ninth game of the season with Tampa and has been relatively quiet until yesterday’s game against the Carolina Panthers. Then he went off!
The third-year safety’s career game began in the first quarter following a Tampa Bay score when Panther’s QB Cam Newton attempted his first pass. Newton’s pass was tipped, and Andrew Adams was there for his first interception of the game. The Bucs went on to kick a FG and lead the game 10-7.
With just under 11 minutes in the 4th quarter, the Panthers, down 7 points in a 17-24 game, were moving the ball rather well, and it seemed like they were marching in for a score until Andrew Adams stepped in front of a pass intended for wide receiver Jarius Wright, recording his second interception of the game.
But he wasn’t finished. With just over 5 minutes left in the 4th quarter, Cam Newton, still down by 7 points, attempted a pass to Curtis Samuel that fell short. Not short enough, as Adams dove and recorded his 3rd interception of the game.
With that third and final interception, Adams became the third player in franchise history to record three interceptions in a game. Ronde Barber accomplished the feat twice, and Aqib Talib was the most recent player to accomplish it in 2009.
Adams seemingly came out of nowhere and exploded on the scene, recording as many interceptions in that outing as the Bucs had coming into the game. An exceptional feat.
I’d also like to commend Javien Elliot for his first interception of the year late in the 2nd quarter. Elliot returned that pass for 50 yards.