|
Received long-overdue recognition and earned his first Pro Bowl berth in 2006 when he was selected as a starter to the NFC squad.
In 2006, returned both an interception and a fumble 99 yards for touchdowns, becoming the first defensive player in NFL history with two touchdowns of 99+ yards in the same season; also only NFL player ever with multiple 99-yarders without the benefit of a kickoff return.
In 2006 led the Cardinals in interceptions (4), forced fumbles (4), fumble recoveries, tackles for a loss (8) and was third in tackles (87) and fourth in sacks (5).
His 8.0 sacks in 2005 were the most in NFL history by a defensive back since sacks became an official statistic in 1982 and also led the team. The previous record belonged to Chicago’s Dave Duerson (7.0 in 1986).
Opted not to become an unrestricted free agent following the 2004 season and instead signed a five-year extension on 12/22/04 that will keep him under contract with the Cardinals through the 2009 season.
Is the only Cardinal to start every game in each of the last three campaigns. Wilson has missed just two games in six seasons with the Cardinals and both were in 2002 the season opener at Washington (shoulder) and finale at Denver (hamstring).
College roommate and teammate at North Carolina State with new Arizona safety Terrence Holt.
Pro Career:
The Cardinals third-round draft choice in 2001 (64th overall), Wilson has emerged as a defensive leader and signed a five-year contract extension on 12/22/04. In 94 career games with the Cardinals he has recorded 512 tackles, 16.5 sacks and 14 interceptions.
2006: Selected to his first Pro Bowl after starting all 16 games, returning both a interception and fumble 99-yards for touchdowns had a solid all around game with seven tackles, two sacks and an interception of QB Matt Hasselbeck @ Sea (9/17); the two sacks gave Wilson, who set an NFL record for defensive backs with eight sacks in 2005, eight sacks in his last nine games intercepted a Michael Vick pass near the Cardinals endzone and returned it a franchise record 99 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter to help temporarily give the Cardinals the lead @ Atl (10/1); also recorded five tackles turned in another good performance vs. KC (10/8), collecting four tackles, one for a loss, a sack of QB Damon Huard and one pass defensed on Monday Night Football vs. Chi (10/16) recorded six tackles, a sack of Rex Grossman, one pass defensed and a forced fumble ... had five tackles and an interception before he left in the third quarter with a groin injury @ Oak (10/22) led all defensive backs with seven tackles, including one for a loss and a forced fumble vs. Dal (11/12) totaled nine tackles and recovered a fourth quarter Chester Taylor fumble at the Cardinals one-yard line and ran in back 99 yards for a TD @ Min (11/26); 99-yard TD return was his second of the season, the other coming on an interception return at Atlanta in week four; became the first player in NFL history to record two TD’s of 99+ yards in the same season without the benefit of a kickoff return TD, a feat that has been accomplished only five times since the 1970 merger, the other four accomplishing the feat with kickoff returns came up with another big game, tying for the team high with nine tackles while adding an interception, two passes defensed and a forced fumble @ StL (12/3); the interception, his fourth of the season tying his career high, came as the Rams were driving in Arizona territory minutes before halftime helping to set up a Neil Rackers 23-yard FG continued his push for the Pro Bowl with six tackles and a fumble recovery vs. Sea (12/10); fumble recovery came after Robert Griffith knocked the ball loose from Seattle RB Shawn Alexander and led to a Cardinals TD on the ensuing possession; also made the key tackle on fourth down that stopped Seattle’s potential game winning drive voted to his first career Pro Bowl on 12/19/06 collected four tackles, one sack and one pass defensed @ SF (12/24), while tracking down his 500th career tackle.
2005: Selected as a Pro Bowl alternate recorded eight sacks, a team-high and the most by a defensive back in the NFL since sacks became official in 1982 recorded a team-high eight solo tackles in the season opener @ NYG (9/11) recorded 11 tackles, the second highest total on the team @ Sea (9/25) and broke up one pass recorded eight solo tackles vs. Ten (10/23) recorded seven tackles and one sack @ Dal (10/30) recorded a career-high 17 tackles @ Det (11/13) and defended one pass had a career game @ StL (11/20) sacking the Rams QBs three times and forcing Marc Bulger out of the game with a shoulder injury; recorded eight stops, also recorded a forced fumble and recovered a fumble recorded another outstanding day as he notched seven tackles, two for a loss, a sack on Alex Smith, a forced fumble, recovered a fumble and deflected a pass @ SF (12/4) continued his push for the Pro Bowl vs. Was (12/11) recording seven solo tackles and intercepting Mark Brunell for his first pick of the season recorded five tackles, three for a loss, and sacked Mike McMahon twice while defending two passes vs. Phi (12/24) in one of the strongest days of his career recorded two tackles @ Ind (1/1) to finish the season with 112 tackles, the second 100-tackle campaign of his career.
2004: Started every contest for the Cardinals in 2004 ... finished the season second on the team in tackles, and one shy of his second career 100-tackle season recorded four tackles, one fumble recovery and a pass breakup in the season opener @ StL (9/12); recovered a fumble on the first St. Louis drive of the game after Quentin Harris forced a Steven Jackson fumble on the Arizona 26-yard line intercepted Michael Vick at the Atlanta 29 and returned it to the Atlanta 18 to set up a Neil Rackers field goal, which gave the Cardinals their only points of the game; tied for a team-high seven tackles and had a team-high two passes defensed @ Atl (9/26) recovered a fumbled reverse handoff between Dante Stallworth and Aaron Stecker and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown to give the Cardinals a 7-0 lead with 4:16 left in the first quarter vs. NO (10/3); recorded five tackles; named NFC Defensive-Player-of-the-Week following his five tackles and fumble recovery for a touchdown in week 4 vs. NO; the Cards defense held their opponent without a touchdown for the second consecutive game for the first time since November of 1970; was also named Defensive Player of the Week in week 7 of 2002 against Dallas and was the 16th Cardinal player to earn the award recorded six tackles, one pass breakup and recovered David Macklin’s forced fumble @ SF (10/10) recorded nine tackles, the most among defensive back, @ Buf (10/31) intercepted a Jake Delhomme pass @ Car (11/21); also made six stops recorded eight tackles vs. SF (12/12) the most of any defensive back recorded his first sack of the season in addition to two tackles and a forced fumble vs. StL (12/19) notched six tackles, one pass defensed and intercepted a Chris Simms pass with 1:06 remaining to play which sealed the win for the Cardinals in the season finale vs. TB (1/2).
2003: Started all but one contest produced the Cards’ first blocked punt since 1997 recorded eight stops and a pass deflection vs. Bal (10/12) had three tackles from scrimmage vs. SF (10/26) and blocked punt in the third quarter which rolled out of bounds at the 49er 11-yard line; Cards converted the possession into a field goal in eventual 1817 victory; whistled for two personal fouls in fourth quarter and ejected from the game team-leading eight combined tackles and batted away two passes vs. StL (11/23) did not start vs. Car (12/14) due to an illness but came off bench to provide three tackles seven tackles and a hurry @ Sea (12/21), then finished season with three solo stops in 18-17 win vs. Min (12/28).
2002: Vaulted over 100-total tackle plateau in first season as a starter fourth on club with 110 tackles recorded three interceptions in 96 win vs. Dal (10/20) earned NFC Defensive Player-of-the-Week honors, most by Cardinal since Kwamie Lassiter made four interceptions in 1998 season finale vs. SD game-day inactive for season-opener @ Was (9/8) while still on mend from preseason right-shoulder dislocation vs. Den (8/24) first action of season in starting role @ Sea (9/15) led team with eight tackles vs. NYG (9/29) dismantled the Cowboys with three interceptions plus thundering sack of Quincy Carter on opening play of game vs. Dal (10/20) season-best 12 combined tackles vs. StL (11/3) nearly duplicated effort with 11 tackles vs. Sea (11/10) the next week set the table for both Cardinal touchdowns @ Phi (11/17); on first, knocked the ball loose from Eagle passer Donovan McNabb on third play of game to set up 12-yard touchdown pass; McNabb suffered a fractured an ankle on the play; on second pick, Wilson intercepted McNabb in the second quarter and returned the ball 35 yards to Philadelphia’s two-yard line Arizona scored on its ensuing play from scrimmage to knot game at 1414 finished contest with 10 tackles, 0.5 sack, one interception, and one forced fumble 10 combined tackles vs. SF (12/21) inactive with hamstring injury for season finale @ Den (12/29).
2001: Playing time from scrimmage increased as season progressed active game in win vs. KC (10/21) with three tackles, one quarterback hurry on a corner blitz and two deflected passes; also got a hand on a Chavous interception in the end zone to stymie last-second Chiefs’ rally from their own one-yard line to the Cards’ two-yard line with five seconds remaining recorded first NFL pass interception @ Dal (10/28) which he returned 36 yards to give Arizona the ball near midfield with four minutes left gave Cards an early 70 lead in first quarter @ Was (1/6) when he stepped in front of Redskin wide receiver Michael Westbrook on a slant route and returned the interception 61 yards for his first NFL touchdown at the 10-minute mark of the opening period.
College:
Two-year starting strong safety at North Carolina State 254 total tackles (144 solos) and 11 stops behind the line of scrimmage in 33 games for the Wolfpack career tackle total most by a N.C. State defensive back since James Walker collected 289 stops from 1993-95 added three interceptions and 11 pass deflections in 23 career starts before entering the NFL Draft following his junior season.
Personal:
Full name Adrian Lemar Wilson All-Guilford County honors from the Greensboro News and Record at T.W. Andrews (High Point, NC)High School most valuable player in the coaches’ East-West All-Star Game played free safety and split end as a senior, helping his team to a berth in the playoffs also played basketball and ran track honorable mention high school basketball all-America notice in 1998, Dream Team all-America selection in 2000 parks, recreation, and tourism management major at N.C. State married, wife’s name is Alicia, daughter Aubrei Reign, and son Adrian Jr. |
