Chicago Bears defensive end Gaines Adams died Sunday morning in South Carolina, county coroner James T. Coursey said. Adams was 26.Adams was taken to the emergency room at Self Regional Hospital in Greenwood, where was pronounced dead, the Greenville News first reported. A preliminary autopsy Sunday revealed Adams had an enlarged heart and likely died of cardiac arrest, ESPN reported.
According to NFL Network, Coursey explained that "health issues" on Sunday morning prompted Adams' girlfriend to call an ambulance. Adams arrived at the hospital just after 8 a.m. ET and was pronounced dead less than a half hour later. Coursey said Adams had no history of health problems.
"We are stunned and saddened by the news of Gaines' passing," the Bears franchise said in a statement. "Our prayers are with his family during this difficult time."
"I just couldn't believe it was Gaines," said Tommy Bowden, who was Gaines' head coach at Clemson. "I will always remember the smile he had on his face and I will always remember his patience."
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers chose him with the fourth overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft. The Buccaneers traded Adams to the Bears during the 2009 regular season.
In his three-year NFL career, Adams played in 47 games and recorded 13.5 sacks.
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Comments (Page 1 of 7)
So young. So sad. Great college player who was starting to play well in the NFL. My condolences to his family.
Now go ahead with all the bonehead lines about the supposed causes and relationships between his unfortunate death and what you only see in the picture.
Rest in Peace
He could've had diabetes or high blood pressure that was undiagnosed or was not always apparent. I get high blood pressure sometimes, but the only way I know when it has spiked is when I use my glucose meter. Most of the time when I go to the doctor it appears normal. Also, he could've had borderline Type A diabetes which is not always determined. Anything could've led to a spike and caused an enlarged heart.
glucose meters are not the best way to monitor your blood pressure. Sugars should be monitored daily, in fact best management is several times a day. Blood pressure may or may not be elevated with sugar elevations. the monitoring of them should be separate
phillip, do you have some inside information that no one else has that the cause of his death was due to drugs, or are you always an azzhole.
Very sad. Young people can have heart problems and not even know it. Sadly, the first symptom is also their last.
he probably had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy which is why his heart was enlarged and when you exercise excessively the blood cant pump causing heart failure and ultimately death by lack of blood to important organs or a heart attack look it up.
I had the privilage of watching Gaines dominate all comers when he was at Clemson. Sadly he was just starting to reach his potential in the NFL. RIP Gaines, all the Tiger fans will miss you
RIP Mr. ADAMS my deepest condolences to you and your family
R.I.P. Gaines Adams. Gaines was a tremendous football player and will be greatly missed. Prayers go out to the Chicago Bears organization, Gaines' family and friends - all those who are deeply impacted by this terrible tragedy.
WOW!!! I can't believe the news this is a total shocker. RIP MR ADAMS you were just making stride's to support the #4 pick what a loss to the Bears NFL and the World. I wish and hope your family will carry on strong. you and they are in my prayers
Condolences to his family, friends, and the Chicago/Tampa Bay organizations. Twenty-six years too young.
My prayers and thoughts are with the Adams family and the Chicago Bears Organization. I thought he was a great player for the D line of the bears.
It is to bad
I am so shocked..My heart goes out to the Adams family during this time..You will all be in my thoughts and prayers..I am a Tiger fan and watched Gaines play at Clemson...Gaines..you will be truly missed..God needed you on His team in Heaven...RIP
wow this is so sad my prayer goes out to the famliy & freinds now this first the baskeball player this is just sad nomatter what spotrs it is there all dangers so young it just sad so sad rip to those that lost there life in cluding all out troops for what they due for us in pray for the thitha eathqaute that hit them so sad my heart goes out to all them never new how it was over there it just sad pray for those who or safe in the one or gone be with them in there time of need god bless them all
this is sad, not because he played in the nfl, but because he died at such a young age and under these circumstances. he was such a gifted person and he went too early.
RIP. So tragic for such a young man. Way to early for a gifted man. Heart goes out to his friend and family and his girlfriend. Very sad.
Very very sad. RIP Gaines,God needed you on his team. Fuzzy.
such a TRADGEDY !! my thoughts and prayers go out to this YOUNG man's family.