Davante Adams only spent half a season playing for the New York Jets, but the franchise’s turmoil seems to have gotten to the former All-Pro.
Amid rumors that the six-time Pro Bowler has played his final game with the Jets, he gave an interview answer that may have hinted at his next team.
Davante Adams Says He’d Love to Play For Mike Tomlin
Adams appeared on “Up & Adams” today, answering some pointed questions from Kay Adams. With Mike Tomlin on the hot seat, the 11-year NFL veteran was asked if he would want to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ head coach.
“100%, I love Mike,” Adams said. “Anytime you have a coach that’s a players’ coach and you can tell that they’ve got a way with their guys… those types of coaches, whether they coach me or not, they always win me over. I’ve had nothing but respect for him, and it’s been mutual.”
“You’d play for Tomlin?”
“Oh, 100%”
-Davante Adams pic.twitter.com/CV1CuLGJlp
— Kay Adams (@heykayadams) January 14, 2025
Then, Adams told a great story about an interaction he and Tomlin had back in 2023 after Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. got in his face after a big play.
“He talked to me during some games,” Adams said. “I remember last year [in] 2023, they came to our place in Vegas. I think Joey Porter Jr. had made a play on the sidelines on me, and he got up barking and screaming and hollering in my face a little bit, and I just kind of looked at him. And then I looked over at Mike Tomlin and he comes running over to me and he’s like, ‘He’s young, he’s young. Just let him live.’
“So, just having somebody that’s like, ‘Look my guy made a play and he was a little out of line,’ but just to be personable enough to joke with me in that moment about that, says a lot about him. Obviously, a great coach, but he’s a hell of a dude too.”
Adams’ comment turned heads since his days in New York are likely numbered, and the Steelers tried acquiring him during the season before he was dealt to the Jets. Could Pittsburgh pursue Adams again this offseason?
The Steelers are still in the market for a wide receiver and pairing Adams with 23-year-old George Pickens could give them a terrific one-two punch.
While Adams was initially excited to reunite with Aaron Rodgers in New York after the trade, the Jets’ season didn’t go as planned, as New York missed the playoffs for the 14th straight season.
After a disappointing season full of drama, the Jets will undoubtedly make some significant changes this offseason. It’s very possible that Rodgers and Adams have played their final game with New York.
Tomlin is currently under fire from a portion of the Steelers fan base. After all, he hasn’t won a playoff game since January 2017. However, Tomlin is expected to keep his job, as his contract was recently extended through 2027 and he has a no-trade clause in his deal.
This season, Adams caught 85 passes for 1,063 yards and eight touchdowns. Over the course of his NFL career, he has totaled 957 catches, 11,844 receiving yards and 103 touchdowns.