He played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies, earning consensus All-American honors, and was selected eighth overall by the Seattle Seahawks in the 1994 NFL draft.
Adams was born in Houston, Texas to former NFL offensive guard Sam Adams Sr.[1][2] He attended Cypress Creek High School in Houston,[3] and he was part of the Cypress Creek Cougars defense that included fellow future NFL player Dan Neil.
At Cy-Creek, Adams was not only the Prep Southwest Defensive Player of the Year in football, but a state champion in the shot put, placing second in the nation among high school track and field athletes.
He was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American, and was named national defensive player of the year by Sports Illustrated.
In 2000, he signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Ravens, and was a crucial piece in helping lead the most dominant defense in the league to a victory in Super Bowl XXXV.
His first game for Buffalo was a memorable one, as he registered a sack, two tackles, and an interception against Tom Brady which was returned for his second career touchdown.
[8] As a Bengal, he was reunited with head coach Marvin Lewis, who was the defensive coordinator for the Ravens when Adams played for them.