Julius Adams obit

Longtime Patriots DL Julius Adams passes away

 

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Longtime New England Patriots defensive lineman Julius Adams, a 50th Anniversary Team selection who played defensive end for the team from 1971-1985 and then again in 1987, has died. He was 67 years old.

Born April 26, 1948, in Macon, Georgia, Adams played 16 seasons for the Patriots after joining the team as a second-round draft pick (27th overall) out of Texas Southern in 1971. He made an immediate impact as a rookie, starting in 11 games and being named to the UPI all-rookie team.

Adams played in 206 games with the Patriots, third all-time, behind Tom Brady (225) and offensive tackle Bruce Armstrong (212). Adams finished his career with 79.5 sacks, second in team history to the 100 sacks by Andre Tippett.

Adams played a big role in the Patriots’ famous “Snow Plow Game” on Dec. 12, 1982, when he blocked a Miami field goal attempt in a 3-0 New England victory at Schaefer Stadium. He also played on the 1985 team that reached the franchise’s first Super Bowl and then retired for one season before coming out of retirement for 1987 season.

Adams was drafted in the 2nd round of the 1971 NFL Draft. He started as a rookie and was chosen to the UPI All-Rookie team in 1971. He was Patriots' leading sacker with 7.5 in 1974 and was named as one of the NFL's top defensive linemen by Pro QB Magazine. The following year, he missed five games due to a foot injury. Adams was the team's top tackler at 47 among the defensive linemen in 1976, and also had six sacks and 12 quarterback pressures. He started 14 games in 1977 and had 9.5 sacks. That season, he ended with 43 tackles.

After missing all but the season opener of the 1978 season with a shoulder injury, he returned in 1979 to play all 16 games. His six quarterback sacks played a vital part in the Patriots' NFL leading total of 57 quarterback sacks. He also had 49 tackles, 13 quarterback pressures and a fumble recovery. In 1980, he made his first and only Pro Bowl appearance and earned that honor with 59 tackles and led the team with nine sacks and finished second on the team in 1980 with 13 quarterback pressures. In 1981, he was eighth on the team in tackles with 54 stops and 30 assists and his outstanding play and leadership enabled him to win the Jim Lee Hunt Memorial Award, given to the most outstanding Patriot lineman. In 1982, he finished second among Patriots' defensive linemen on the tackle chart with 45 and he also made one of the biggest plays of his career that season when he blocked a Uwe von Schamann field goal attempt in the Patriots 3-0 win over Miami (12-12-82).

Adams was again the top tackler among Patriots' defensive linemen in 1983 with a total of 83 tackles and he also finished second on the team in quarterback sacks with eight and third with seven quarterback pressures. In 1984, he made 34 tackles and four sacks, seven quarterback pressures and one pass deflection in playing. He also blocked an extra-point kick late in the first half vs. Miami in October 1984. He started one game in 1984, the final game vs. Indianapolis (12-16-84) and in that game, came up with a blocked field goal on a 42-yarder with five minutes left in a game the Patriots led at the time, 13-10 (went on to win, 16-10). He was given a game ball for his effort.

Adams played in 1985 on the Super Bowl team and then retired. He returned for several weeks in 1987 as a replacement player during that season's strike.

He is survived by his wife, Terri.